Thierno Bocoum demands full transparency on the new Senegal IMF agreement

The recent technical consensus reached between Sénégal and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has sparked intense political discussions. Thierno Bocoum, who leads the Agir-Les Leaders movement, is calling on the executive branch to clarify how the national debt is being managed and to disclose the specific terms attached to this new financial initiative.

The former lawmaker is urging the immediate release of the memorandum outlining economic and financial policies. Alternatively, he proposes submitting this document directly to the National Assembly, ensuring a democratic debate over the commitments made on behalf of the citizens of Sénégal.

However, Thierno Bocoum’s critiques extend beyond the current administration. He also targets Ousmane Sonko and Abdourahmane Sarr, identifying them as key figures whose past actions contributed to the country’s ongoing debt challenges and complex relationship with the IMF.

Regarding Ousmane Sonko, the opposition leader notes that his tenure as Prime Minister from April 2, 2024, to May 22, 2026, places him at the center of the IMF negotiations. Thierno Bocoum points out that Sonko was directly involved in the discussions that occurred prior to the halting of the previous aid program.

He also highlighted the September 2024 declarations concerning alleged discrepancies in national debt reporting. According to him, this public disclosure triggered the suspension of the IMF program and severely damaged the financial stability of Sénégal.

Furthermore, the head of AGIR-Les Leaders raised concerns about the government securing funds on the regional market at interest rates that far exceed standard concessional financing options.

Former minister Abdourahmane Sarr also faces scrutiny

Thierno Bocoum did not spare Abdourahmane Sarr, the former Minister of Economy, Planning, and Cooperation, pointing out significant shifts in his public stance regarding the sustainability of the debt of Sénégal.

He observed that the former minister previously championed the country’s debt viability and defended its reduction strategy, only to later acknowledge that the government had to request specific restructuring measures to stabilize the economy.

Ultimately, Thierno Bocoum insists that all decision-makers involved in these financial negotiations must be held accountable for the current economic hurdles.

These demands come on the heels of Sénégal successfully securing a preliminary technical agreement with the IMF to launch a fresh economic and financial recovery plan.