Former Senegalese President Macky Sall has retained national and international law firms to challenge claims of “hidden debt” amounting to nearly $7 billion, seeking full transparency and verification of audit reports cited by international financial institutions.
The legal move comes amid growing fiscal scrutiny and ongoing negotiations between Senegal and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Sources close to the case describe it as a “clarification battle” aimed at ensuring the accuracy of public debt figures and protecting the integrity of Senegal’s economic record.
Faced with media reports and financial assessments suggesting undisclosed borrowing, Sall’s legal advisors have formally requested supporting documentation from the Minister of Finance and the President of the Court of Auditors.
“They anticipate that the reports of the General Inspectorate of Finance contain sensitive information that could be misinterpreted,” a source said.
“The objective is to control public communication and avoid premature conclusions.”
The former president seeks to maintain investor confidence while demonstrating the transparency of his administration’s financial management. By clarifying the figures, Sall hopes to dispel suspicions of irregularities and inform citizens about the actual nature of the so-called hidden debt.
Investigations may also examine the accounting procedures in place at the time of borrowing.
The dispute centers on differences between official government figures and audit results. Last August, an IMF mission in Dakar noted that public debt at the end of 2023 exceeded 70% of GDP according to official accounts, whereas the Court of Auditors placed it closer to 100% of GDP—nearly $6 to $7 billion allegedly undisclosed.
The IMF stressed that the funds had not been misappropriated but were not reported, potentially enabling the state to secure more favourable borrowing terms.
In a September interview with the Atlantic Council in Washington, Sall rejected the claims, insisting that “such a cover-up was impossible given the institutional procedures and the control of national and regional bodies.”
He highlighted that all government borrowing is traceable through the BCEAO and the General Directorate of Public Debt.
The controversy emerges as Senegal seeks to rebuild donor confidence, renegotiate financial programs, and prepare a new multi-year budget framework.
While the current government has not directly accused its predecessor, it emphasises the importance of “establishing the accounting truth” to ensure continuity and reassure investors.
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