{
  "title": "IMF Staff Concludes Visit to Senegal",
  "publication": "IMF News, June 22, 2026",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2026/06/22/pr26216-senegal-imf-staff-concludes-visit",
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  "summary": "June 22, 2026 – Washington, DC: A Staff team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), led by Mercedes Vera Martin, IMF Mission Chief for Senegal, visited Senegal during June 15-19 to assess recent macroeconomic developments and outlook, and held discussions with the Senegalese authorities on their plans to navigate the challenges ahead.",
  "publishDate": "2026-06-22",
  "sections": [
    {
      "heading": "Mission purpose and delegation",
      "content": "- IMF Staff team visited Senegal during June 15-19.\n- Mission led by Mercedes Vera Martin, IMF Mission Chief for Senegal.\n- Purpose: assess recent macroeconomic developments and outlook; hold discussions with the Senegalese authorities on their plans to navigate the challenges ahead.\n- Press Release No. 26/216."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Key findings and macroeconomic assessment",
      "content": "- “The IMF team held open and constructive technical discussions with the Senegalese authorities.”\n- The team welcomed authorities’ commitment to addressing vulnerabilities revealed by the past misreporting, including reforms to strengthen public financial management, fiscal governance, and transparency.\n- The team welcomed institutional reforms to unify debt management functions as a critical corrective measure in the misreporting process.\n- Senegal’s economy has shown resilience despite a challenging economic situation amid a difficult global environment.\n\nKey statistics and outcomes:\n- Real GDP growth reached 6.7 percent in 2025.\n- The current account deficit narrowed significantly in 2025, driven by oil exports and import compression.\n- The overall fiscal deficit narrowed sharply from 13.4 percent of GDP in 2024 to 6.4 percent of GDP in 2025.\n- Fiscal and debt vulnerabilities remain elevated."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Risks and external shock assessment",
      "content": "- Near-term outlook is subject to elevated risks.\n- “Higher global oil prices since the start of the war in the Middle East are expected to put additional pressure on Senegal’s public finances this year, given the budgetary cost of untargeted subsidies.”\n- In the context of elevated debt vulnerabilities, heightened global uncertainty and tighter financial conditions could further exacerbate financing pressures."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Policy discussions, reforms, and IMF engagement",
      "content": "- Discussions focused on:\n  - Assessing the impact of the war in the Middle East on the Senegalese economy and public finances.\n  - Reviewing financing needs and conditions for the remainder of the year.\n  - Designing reforms to enhance growth, reinforce social safety nets and strengthen governance.\n- Authorities reiterated their interest in a new IMF-supported program.\n- IMF staff will continue to engage with the authorities on policies and reform priorities that could be supported by an IMF arrangement, including:\n  - Measures to support fiscal consolidation and address debt vulnerabilities.\n  - Strengthening debt management.\n  - Enhancing public governance.\n  - Promoting inclusive and sustainable growth.\n- “We reaffirm our commitment to supporting Senegal in these challenging times.”"
    },
    {
      "heading": "Meetings and acknowledgments",
      "content": "- The IMF staff team thanked the Senegalese authorities for warm hospitality, excellent cooperation, and the candor and quality of discussions.\n- During the visit, the IMF team met with:\n  - Mr. Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo, Prime Minister;\n  - Mr. Cheikh Diba, Minister of Economy, Finance and Planning;\n  - Mr. Bassirou Sarr, Minister-Delegate to the Minister of Economy, Finance and Plan in charge of the Budget;\n  - Mr. Allé Nar Diop, Minister-Delegate to the Minister of Economy, Finance and Plan in charge of Economy, Planning and Cooperation;\n  - Mr. François Sène, National Director of the BCEAO;\n  - as well as several senior officials.\n\nPress Release No. 26/216, June 22, 2026 — IMF Communications Department.\n\n---\n\n\n References\n\n- Senegal and the IMF\n- Press Releases\n- PRESS CENTER\n- https://www.imf.org/en/home\n\nSource: https://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2026/06/22/pr26216-senegal-imf-staff-concludes-visit"
    }
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    "Published: June 22, 2026",
    "IMF Staff team visited Senegal during June 15-19.",
    "Mission led by Mercedes Vera Martin, IMF Mission Chief for Senegal.",
    "Purpose: assess recent macroeconomic developments and outlook; hold discussions with the Senegalese authorities on their plans to navigate the challenges ahead.",
    "Press Release No. 26/216.",
    "“The IMF team held open and constructive technical discussions with the Senegalese authorities.”",
    "The team welcomed authorities’ commitment to addressing vulnerabilities revealed by the past misreporting, including reforms to strengthen public financial management, fiscal governance, and transparency.",
    "The team welcomed institutional reforms to unify debt management functions as a critical corrective measure in the misreporting process.",
    "Senegal’s economy has shown resilience despite a challenging economic situation amid a difficult global environment.",
    "Real GDP growth reached 6.7 percent in 2025.",
    "The current account deficit narrowed significantly in 2025, driven by oil exports and import compression.",
    "The overall fiscal deficit narrowed sharply from 13.4 percent of GDP in 2024 to 6.4 percent of GDP in 2025.",
    "Fiscal and debt vulnerabilities remain elevated.",
    "Near-term outlook is subject to elevated risks.",
    "“Higher global oil prices since the start of the war in the Middle East are expected to put additional pressure on Senegal’s public finances this year, given the budgetary cost of untargeted subsidies.”",
    "In the context of elevated debt vulnerabilities, heightened global uncertainty and tighter financial conditions could further exacerbate financing pressures.",
    "Discussions focused on:",
    "Authorities reiterated their interest in a new IMF-supported program.",
    "IMF staff will continue to engage with the authorities on policies and reform priorities that could be supported by an IMF arrangement, including:",
    "“We reaffirm our commitment to supporting Senegal in these challenging times.”",
    "The IMF staff team thanked the Senegalese authorities for warm hospitality, excellent cooperation, and the candor and quality of discussions.",
    "During the visit, the IMF team met with:",
    "[Senegal and the IMF](http://www.imf.org/external/country/SEN/index.htm)",
    "[Press Releases](https://www.imf.org/en/news/searchnews)",
    "[PRESS CENTER](http://presscenter.imf.org/)",
    "[https://www.imf.org/en/home](https://www.imf.org/en/home)"
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