## Frequently Asked Questions on Senegal

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Frequently Asked Questions on Senegal](https://www.imf.org/en/countries/sen/senegal-qandas)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/countries/sen/senegal-qandas/index.md)
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### IMF engagement and missions
- IMF staff to visit Dakar from August 19 to September 1.  
- IMF Staff to Visit Senegal, August 17, 2026.  
- IMF Staff Concludes Visit to Senegal, June 22, 2026.  
- Mission Chief for Senegal: Mercedes Vera Martin.  
- Discussions on a new Fund-supported program began during the October 2025 IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington, DC.
- The visit will provide an opportunity to continue discussions with the authorities toward an IMF-supported program and to engage with other stakeholders.

### Objectives and focus of discussions
- Focus: reach a shared view on the macroeconomic outlook, financing needs, and policies and reforms that could be supported by an IMF lending arrangement.  
- Overarching goal: help Senegal safeguard macroeconomic stability, restore debt sustainability, and foster sustainable and inclusive growth.  
- IMF engagement focuses on assessing debt sustainability, the macroeconomic outlook, and appropriate policies and reforms. Decisions on any debt strategy remain the responsibility of the Senegalese authorities.  
- As with all IMF member countries, any Fund financing must be underpinned by a sustainable debt outlook and supported by policies that place public finances on a credible and durable path.

### Economic assessment and risks
- Senegal’s economy has remained resilient despite a challenging global environment, supported by strong growth in the hydrocarbon sector.  
- External and fiscal balances have improved, helped by oil exports and government efforts to contain spending.  
- Fiscal and debt vulnerabilities remain elevated.  
- Near-term outlook faces significant risks:
  - Higher global oil prices will increase pressure on public finances, particularly through the cost of broad-based energy subsidies.
  - Elevated debt vulnerabilities, global uncertainty, and tighter financial conditions could make financing conditions more challenging.

### Hidden debt, audits, and accountability
- Discussions with the authorities have focused on addressing the root causes of the misreporting.  
- Measures undertaken include audits to establish the stock of public debt and agreeing on reforms to strengthen debt management and prevent future misreporting.  
- IMF staff are monitoring the implementation of the agreed measures to safeguard credibility, reduce vulnerabilities, and strengthen public finance management.  
- IMF staff commend the authorities for their commitment to transparency and for taking steps to identify and disclose the hidden debt.

### Reforms and monitoring
- Authorities are implementing key reforms to strengthen fiscal oversight and transparency, including:
  - centralizing debt management,
  - enhancing debt data quality,
  - auditing payment arrears,
  - reinforcing budget controls.
- The reforms will be phased in. The IMF will continue to monitor the implementation of these reforms, including during discussions around a new IMF-supported program.  
- IMF and World Bank staff are working closely with the authorities on updating the debt sustainability analysis to reflect the most recent debt data and macroeconomic outlook.

### Conditionality and executive decisions
- Once the authorities have addressed the root causes of the hidden debt and developed policies to address underlying macroeconomic imbalances under a new IMF-supported program, the IMF Executive Board will decide whether to grant a waiver to pre-empt an early repayment of IMF financing.

### Institutional learning and data reliance
- In carrying out its work, the IMF relies on data provided by country authorities.  
- The IMF is a learning institution and is reflecting on this experience to further strengthen its surveillance and data integrity frameworks.

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## References

- [IMF Staff to Visit Senegal, August 17, 2026](https://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2026/08/17/pr26276-senegal-imf-staff-to-visit-senegal)
- [IMF Staff Concludes Visit to Senegal, June 22, 2026](https://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2026/06/22/pr26216-senegal-imf-staff-concludes-visit)
- [Senegal and the IMF](https://www.imf.org/en/countries/sen)

_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/countries/sen/senegal-qandas_