Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has appointed veteran economist Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo as the country’s new prime minister, days after dismissing the previous government led by longtime ally Ousmane Sonko amid growing political tensions.
Lo, who previously headed the Senegal branch of the Central Bank of West African States, pledged to reassure investors and stabilise the economy as Senegal grapples with mounting debt challenges.
Speaking on state television after his appointment on Monday, Lo acknowledged the country’s financial difficulties, saying Senegal faced a “state of emergency” in public finances and the broader economy.
“Senegal is a safe and reliable country and intends to remain so,” he said.
The leadership change comes as Senegal remains in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund after the IMF froze the country’s $1.8 billion lending programme following revelations of misreported debt figures. Revised estimates placed Senegal’s debt at 132 percent of gross domestic product by the end of 2024.
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Sonko had publicly opposed any restructuring of the country’s estimated US$13 billion debt, which he said the IMF was pushing for, while President Faye has largely avoided commenting directly on the issue.
Faye dismissed Sonko on Friday after months of tensions between the two leaders, despite Sonko playing a key role in Faye’s rise to power.
Political uncertainty continues to cloud the outlook. Earlier this year, Sonko warned he could move the ruling Pastef party into opposition if the president departed from the party’s reform agenda, raising concerns over the government’s ability to secure parliamentary backing for reforms needed to unlock IMF support.
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Senegal’s National Assembly is expected to meet on Tuesday to discuss Sonko’s possible return as a lawmaker. Speculation has also intensified that he could seek the role of parliamentary speaker following the resignation of the current speaker on Sunday.
Lo sought to ease concerns over policy continuity, saying his appointment did not signal a retreat from the government’s reform ambitions but rather a shift in approach aligned with President Faye’s vision.
He also praised Sonko’s administration, highlighting its economic recovery programme launched last year, which relied heavily on domestic financing.
