Madar (Dakar) - The rift at the top of Senegal's state has moved onto the budget: National Assembly speaker and Pastef leader Ousmane Sonko said on Monday, October 19, 2026, that his party's lawmakers will not vote the 2026 amended finance bill in its current form, as unions prepare a three-day general strike this week.
Sonko: "face to face in a studio"
At a press conference in Dakar after a party conclave, Sonko, a former prime minister, challenged the current head of government, Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo: "If the current prime minister wishes, we can meet face to face in a studio," adding that "Senegalese people will judge", Senegalese media reported.
He said the fuel subsidy envelope was cut from 790 billion to 552 billion CFA francs because of commitments to the IMF, and that diesel would rise to 867 CFA francs a litre if the bill passed. He also criticised a 555-billion cut in investment credits and cuts to social sectors.
To offset lower subsidies, he proposed cutting fuel taxes, which he said make up about 37% of prices, by lowering VAT from 18% to 15% and reviewing import duties: "If you want to reduce the subsidy, reduce the tax substantially as well."
On debt, he said no one had accepted a restructuring: "Only Al Amine Lo agreed," naming former economy minister Abdourahmane Sarr, current finance minister Cheikh Diba and himself among those opposed.
The government's reply
In a first response from the government side, Energy and Petroleum Minister Abdourahmane Diouf said "advisers are not the ones who pay", questioning what Sonko's advice achieved in his 26 months as prime minister, Senegalese media reported. The government has not yet taken an official position on Pastef's demands.
Prime Minister Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo has been on a working visit to Abidjan since Sunday, according to the Ivorian news agency and APA.
The street awaits a strike
The standoff coincides with a call by the CNTS union confederation and the Trade Union Front for the Defence of Labour for a 72-hour general strike from October 21 to 23, preceded by a march in Dakar on October 20, demanding notably payment of about 100 billion CFA francs in state arrears to the IPRES pension fund and lower prices for basic goods, water, electricity and fuel.
Education and health unions have announced strikes on the same dates, less than two weeks before Dakar opens the Youth Olympic Games, the first held in Africa.
