** The economic reality of Senegal: challenges and perspectives after the interventions of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko **
On February 21, 2025, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko took the floor before the National Assembly, thus marking a crucial stage in the country’s political landscape after the legislative elections in November. This session of questions to the government is of particular importance, not only for the current political leadership, but also for all the Senegalese who await concrete answers in the face of an alarming economic and social situation.
The main objective of this article is not only to relate the facts, but to contextualize the economic situation of Senegal in a broader framework, by highlighting the challenges that the country is confronted, and by offering a comparative perspective with other nations on the African continent.
### An economic situation in distress
From the start, Ousmane Sonko recognized the severity of the situation. During his speech, he spoke of the alarming conclusions of the report of the Court of Auditors concerning the management of public finances between 2019 and 2024. His words, imprisoned of gravity, underline a crisis which has slowly settled in Senegal, exacerbated by COVID-19 pandemic, global inflation and geopolitical tensions.
It is interesting to compare this situation with other savings in the region. For example, Ghana recently faced a similar economic crisis, having had to request the support of the IMF because of its deficient budget management. However, the Ghanaian government’s response included marked austerity measures, contrasting with the position of Sonko which refutes any desire to set up an austerity plan, while providing price reductions on products from Products need.
### Reactions from deputies: an epidermal debate
The exchanges between the Prime Minister and the deputies revealed the polarization of the political landscape. Sonko, with the support of some deputies from his party, Pastef, pleaded for increased transparency in financial management. The opposition, materialized by the incisive issues of Thierno Alassane Sall, sought to highlight a contradiction between the promises of a bright future and the reality of a budget under tension.
This confrontation recalls the tensions observed in other West African countries, where governments have often had to juggle between ambitious electoral promises and disenchanted economic realities. For example, Côte d’Ivoire, under the presidency of Alassane Ouattara, lived similar moments when growth promises had to face unforeseen economic crises.
### towards a national start: the call for mobilization
Ousmane Sonko called for a collective “start” of Senegalese citizens. This word resonates as an echo to the solidarity movements that we have observed in various countries, where the populations advance together in front of economic crises. For example, the “Continue” movement in South Africa has seen millions of people mobilize to demand fairer economic policies.
His call for the awakening of national consciences recalls that each citizen has a role to play in resolving the crisis. Citizen engagement therefore becomes crucial, not only to monitor state management but also to encourage a culture of responsibility and innovation.
### Conclusion: a pages to write for Senegal
The current situation of Senegal, marked by economic and social challenges, calls for leaders to an essential strategic reflection. By focusing on transparency, avoiding errors of the past and learning experiences of other nations, Ousmane Sonko can hope to trace a new path for a resilient and united Senegal.
In the coming months, it will be necessary to observe not only the immediate impacts of its policies, but also the response of citizens and economic actors. The history of Senegal is rewriting, and it is up to everyone to participate actively. The eyes of the continent, and of the world, are riveted on this nation which, by its choices, could well inspire other countries in Africa.