Senegal budget row should not 'bring country to a standstill', PM tells AFP

Senegal's prime minister on Monday urged the opposition not to paralyse the heavily indebted west African country by blocking a revised draft budget for 2026 in parliament.

"You cannot bring a country to a standstill," Ahmadou Al Aminou Mohamed Lo told AFP in an interview, again urging the powerful Pastef party to return to "dialogue" at a time of crisis for the country's economy.

Lo also hinted that President Bassirou Diomaye Faye would use "all the tools" at his disposal to avoid a shutdown.

Any hold-up would imperil Senegal's ability to get a grip on its vast public-sector debt -- estimated at 132 percent of GDP at the end of 2024 -- and satisfy the demands of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for any potential rescue package.

Pastef, which holds an overwhelming majority in parliament, has already rejected the budget in committee, signalling its near-certain failure to pass Senegal's National Assembly on Tuesday.

The pan-African party's charismatic leader Ousmane Sonko, who is engaged in a dramatic political feud with President Faye, has already said his party would not accept the 2026 revised finance bill, nor a 2027 draft budget.

In the interview at his office in the capital Dakar, Lo said he had already contacted Sonko and was "waiting for his response".

Seeking to reassure his country's international partners and creditors, he also dismissed suggestions that Senegal was "in a state of siege".

"There is no reason to speak of a Black Tuesday," he said, arguing that the country has seen "far more complex situations than what we are experiencing today".

"Later (Monday), the necessary steps will be taken in response to the concerns that have been raised with us, and, together with the President of the Republic, we will ensure that these concerns are discussed with the Pastef group," he told AFP.

'Every measure'

The prime minister also pointed to Senegal's presidential system, suggesting that if the vote is delayed, Faye could "use the tools at his disposal".

"This could involve making use of every measure the Constitution affords the President of the Republic to prevent a shutdown," Lo added.

Among the instruments Faye could resort to are executive orders and extending the budget allocations already voted through.

"We hope that tomorrow (Tuesday) we will find ourselves with a vote," Lo said.

"Failing that, we have the whole week to continue discussions with parliament in order to pass this revised budget," he added.

"Tomorrow is a day like any other. Senegal will continue to live on."

The wrangling comes at a time of heightened social tension, with youth unemployment high and a cost-of-living crisis prompting a three-day general strike last week.

The revised budget's passing is seen as key to satisfying the demands of the IMF, with which Senegal is hoping to strike a new 36-month, $2.2 billion debt programme aimed at stabilising the country's public finances.

But the IMF has yet to announce executive board approval and the bailout is subject to certain conditions.

Sonko, a former mentor to President Faye, once held Lo's position as Senegal's prime minister himself.

But he was fired by Faye in May after the two one-time allies fell out, in part over how to tackle the country's massive debt.