BudgIT Senegal, a civic tech organisation committed to promoting transparency and accountability in public finance, has called for full accountability following revelations of falsified public debt and deficit figures reported by the previous government.
Recall that on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko accused the previous administration of manipulating budget figures from the 2019–2024 fiscal period. In response to these serious allegations, we promptly issued a press release emphasising the need for clarity and accountability. The uncertainty surrounding Senegal’s fiscal data has contributed to investor reluctance and delayed a $1.8 billion economic IMF Fund program to October 2025. We then supported awaiting the audit results from the Cour des Comptes, Senegal’s supreme financial audit institution, to verify these claims.
In February 2025, the “Court des Compte” published its report in accordance with Organic Law No. 2012-23. The report confirmed widespread public financial mismanagement, substantiating the Prime Minister’s allegations and exposing even greater irregularities. The findings revealed a significant underestimation of public debt, which stood at 18,558.91 billion CFA francs, equivalent to 99.67% of GDP. Additionally, 2,500 billion CFA francs were contracted as bank debts outside the official budgetary framework and without parliamentary approval. The budget deficit was also manipulated, as the previous government reported a deficit of 4.9% of GDP for 2023, while the Cour des Comptes calculated it at 12.3%, exposing a discrepancy of over 2,291 billion CFA francs due to concealed debts and expenditures.
In response to these alarming findings, Senegal’s financial partner, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), dispatched a delegation to assess the situation and advise the government on corrective measures. The IMF has since provided recommendations to reduce the fiscal deficit and implement strategies for sustainable debt management. BudgIT Senegal underscores that transparent and efficient public financial management is critical for economic stability and public trust in governance.
Commenting, Elhadj Amadou Samb, Country Lead of BudgIT Senegal, stressed that the findings from the Cour des Comptes confirm the suspicion—Senegal’s financial mismanagement has been severe, and its consequences are being felt by citizens and investors alike. “ Fiscal transparency is not just a governance principle; it is necessary for economic stability. The government must ensure that those responsible for manipulating public finance data are held accountable. There must be a clear, actionable roadmap for restoring credibility in public financial management, ensuring that such discrepancies never happen again,” he said.
Furthermore, falsifying economic data further erodes citizens’ trust in the government and ultimately leads to economic instability as it delays necessary reforms or interventions that could prevent or mitigate economic crises.
To this end, we applaud the current administration of President Faye on this discovery and urge them to ensure accountability for individuals responsible for data falsification and financial mismanagement while prioritizing the recovery of misappropriated funds to mitigate the economic impact of past irregularities. We also call on the government to carefully evaluate the IMF’s recommendation on the phased reduction of energy subsidies, ensuring that national sovereignty and socio-economic stability remain at the forefront of decision-making. Lastly, we request the publication of a comprehensive and detailed work plan outlining proposed reforms in public financial management.
BudgIT Senegal remains committed to advocating for fiscal transparency and accountability, reinforcing the principles of good governance, and ensuring that public funds are managed responsibly for the benefit of all Senegalese citizens.
Signed
Elhadj Amadou Samb
Country Lead, BudgIT Senegal
