DÉFENDRE L’ÉTAT, C’EST AUSSI DIRE LA VÉRITÉ AUX SÉNÉGALAIS (Par Massamba DIOP)
The statement by the Minister of Economy, Finance and Planning, Mr. Cheikh Diba, at the end of the International Monetary Fund mission, deserves to be welcomed with responsibility and clarity.
In a particularly challenging economic context, the Government of Senegal has chosen to face reality head-on, rather than conceal it. The technical agreement reached with the IMF marks a new stage in the recovery of our public finances and the restoration of trust with our partners.
To those who seek to portray this situation as a failure of the Minister of Finance or as an inability of the State to act, it is necessary to reiterate an obvious point: weakened public finances cannot be restored in a few months. They must be stabilized with method, courage, and consistency.
The figures presented in the statement are clear. The audit of public finances has revealed the extent of the constraint. At the end of 2024, central government debt represented 119% of GDP, while in 2026, a significant portion of public revenue is absorbed by debt interest payments.
Faced with this situation, the Government did not remain inactive.
He has initiated a process of fiscal consolidation, spending rationalization, improved revenue mobilization, and sustainable debt management. Senegal's Debt Treatment Plan is precisely one of the instruments of this strategy.
But defending the Government's actions does not mean defending a policy of blind austerity.
On the contrary, the declaration shows that the objective is to protect the most vulnerable Senegalese, while redirecting public resources towards priority sectors: health, education, social protection, production, employment and structural investments.
The Government also announced the acceleration of debt settlement for the private sector. 300 billion CFA francs have been allocated to paying off companies' debts for the remainder of the year, with the aim of easing their cash flow, preserving their investments, and supporting employment.
This is also part of the State's responsibility: to recognize the difficulties, explain the choices and take measures to gradually put the economy back on a sound footing.
On the social front, significant commitments are also announced, including the payment of family security grants before the end of September and, from 2027, the doubling of the budget allocated to these grants, which would increase from 70 to 140 billion CFA francs, with an expansion of the number of beneficiary families.
Therefore, we must avoid making assumptions about intentions.
The Minister of Finance cannot be held responsible for all the difficulties stemming from the country's financial situation. His responsibility now is to find solutions to restore balance, protect the population, and give the State more room to maneuver.
And that is precisely what is at stake.
The budget deficit, according to the statement, has fallen from 13.4% of GDP in 2024 to 6.7% in 2025, while reforms have been undertaken to strengthen financial governance, debt management and control and monitoring mechanisms.
The Government must therefore be given the time and resources to continue this work.
Defending Minister Cheikh Diba means defending an approach of truth, responsibility and redress.
Defending the State of Senegal means refusing discouragement and remembering that economic sovereignty depends first and foremost on sound public finances, rigorous management and a renewed capacity to invest in our future.
Senegal deserves debate, constructive criticism, and civic vigilance. But above all, it deserves that we recognize recovery efforts when they are undertaken in the national interest.
Our only compass must remain Senegal.
Massamba DIOP
Founding member of Kiiraay
Kiiraay Framework
Departmental Manager Kiiraay Thies
Kiiraay Manager, Thiès North
Commentaires (10)
L'exercice de communication du ministre de l'économie a été extrêmement difficile. Parce qu'il s'est agi d'expliquer ce qu'ils ont fait sans dire ce qu'ils ont fait. Le ministre ne veut pas parler de restructuration de la dette. Il choisit l'expression "plan de traitement de la dette ". Qui sont les sénégalais qui se rappellent que c'est exactement ce que Barthélémy Diaz conseillait au gouvernement de Diomaye. Il avait dit: "ils n'ont qu'à restructurer et le cacher au peuple ". Ainsi donc, après la dette cachée de Macky Sall, nous sommes dans la restructuration cachée de Diomaye.
Cheikh Diba a rappelé que tout le problème est causé par la dette cachée, qu'il préfère appeler "misreporting ". Il dit que le niveau atteint par la dette cachée du Sénégal, le FMI n'a jamais connu la pareille depuis sa création. Mais, les pays qui ont eu des dettes cachées de moindre ampleur, les responsables ont été traduits devant la justice. Le Sénégal sera donc le premier pays à atteindre ce niveau de dette cachée, et le seul dont les responsables ne répondront pas de leurs actes.
Misreporting pour ne pas dire dette cachée, plan de traitement de la dette pour ne pas dire sa restructuration, pourquoi choisir de parler au peuple dans une langue qu'il ne comprend pas ? On ne peut pas traduire ces mots en français, en wolof, en peul ? Pourquoi ce choix ? La vérité est que c'est une volonté manifeste de tromper le peuple. Et pire, ce qui va suivre sera une torture de ce peuple. Parce qu'il n'y a pas pire torture que de faire endurer à quelqu’un les effets de ce dont il n'est pas responsable, alors que le responsable est là à le narguer. Ici, le masla devient un crime.
Merci Mr DIOP
A vrai dire une analyse équidistante de l'accord d'aujourd'hui laisse penser que le bon bout a été trouvé.
Maintenant il reste à trouver des gens comme ce Sieur Diop pour dire la vérité , la vrai aux populations.
La politique c'est l'art de défendre la cité et la cité a besoin de vous.
Bien des choses à vous.
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