Senegal's parliament on Tuesday resumed debate on the amended finance bill for 2026, in an attempt to overcome the disagreement between the government and lawmakers over public spending priorities.
The session follows two rejections of the bill by a parliamentary majority led by Pastef, which insists on protecting social allocations and curbing state spending while preserving citizens' purchasing power.
The government, through Economy and Finance Minister Cheikh Diba, is seeking to persuade lawmakers to back the proposed amendments in order to avoid derailing its financial understanding with the International Monetary Fund.
The dispute is particularly significant given the pressure on Senegal's public finances, with public debt reaching about 132% of gross domestic product in 2024, as the country seeks $2.2 billion in international financing over three years.
