Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has launched an urgent and far-reaching reform drive to rescue Senegal’s economy from a looming crisis, amid revelations that the country’s hidden debt now exceeds $7 billion and has pushed the debt-to-GDP ratio to a staggering 119%.
At a high-stakes strategy meeting on Monday, Sonko assembled his entire cabinet to chart a new path under the Senegal 2050 program. The meeting, held in an atmosphere likened to a crisis seminar, combined praise for recent legislative wins—such as the swift adoption of the supplementary finance law—with firm directives aimed at reshaping government action and restoring fiscal credibility.
“We can no longer allow bureaucracy to dilute our promises,” Sonko warned, as he unveiled a new governance model built on strict accountability.
Every project under the new framework will be tied to fixed timelines, measurable objectives, and mandatory quarterly reports. Delays, he stressed, would no longer be tolerated, and responsibility would be clearly assigned.
The Prime Minister announced eight immediate priorities to re-energize state action.
First on the agenda is a sweeping reform of administrative procedures, with mail processing systems to be restructured and digitized within three months.
Second, all pre-funded projects will be expedited, with the Prime Minister’s Office directly overseeing progress.
Among the most urgent is the launch of the MUR project, included in the revised finance law, which must commence within 30 days. A new task force—comprising agencies such as Box, APIX, FONSIS, and the CDC—will also be formed to finalize major pending projects in partnership with private consultancies.
To improve coordination, all inter-ministerial initiatives will now fall under the Prime Minister’s authority.
Meanwhile, ministries have been ordered to submit updated roadmaps aligned with national priorities by the end of July, with detailed deliverables due by August 15.
Special emphasis has been placed on preparations for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, identified as a key national milestone.
In tandem, a national recovery plan will be unveiled in the coming weeks, accompanied by a wide-reaching public awareness campaign.
Beyond its technical scope, the new strategy signals a major political shift.
Sonko’s administration aims to turn the long-term Senegal 2050 vision into a practical lever for immediate reform.
The centralization of project oversight, the integration of private-sector expertise, and the enforcement of strict timelines underscore a new ethos of urgency and efficiency.
Yet the plan’s success will hinge on swift implementation.
The first round of evaluations is expected by the end of September. With Senegal facing growing public skepticism and heightened economic vulnerability, failure is not an option.
In a country long weary of delayed promises, Sonko’s message is clear: the time for excuses is over. The course is set, and the government must now deliver—line by line, project by project.
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