Ministry of Economy, Finance and Planning clarified the official position of the State of Senegal following recent statements by the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Serigne Guèye Diop, regarding a possible restructuring of the public debt.
Dakar insists that these comments do not commit the government, explicitly distancing itself from the remarks by classifying them as a “personal opinion” that does not reflect the official position of the State. In a press release published Monday evening, the department headed by Minister Cheikh Diba indicated it had taken note of a press article relaying the remarks made by Diop during a television program devoted to the economic situation of the country.
The ministry recalled that it remains the sole official channel of communication on all subjects relating to public finances and relations with international financial partners. This clarification comes immediately after the media appearance by the Minister of Industry and Commerce, who had mentioned the possibility for Senegal to restructure its debt as part of ongoing discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Diop had notably declared that the government was approaching the negotiations without ideology and that if the solution lay in restructuring, the government was ready to do it, estimating that the debt could be re-discussed or restructured if it proved necessary.
Faced with the interpretations aroused by these declarations, the Ministry of Finance firmly reaffirmed that the State of Senegal remains fully committed to respecting all of its financial obligations and to the regular execution of its commitments to its creditors, technical and financial partners, as well as investors. Ultimately, this clarification aims to reassure Senegal’s markets and financial partners at a time when the issue of public debt remains at the very heart of discussions between Dakar and international financial institutions.
AC/fss/abj/APA