Cheikh Diba, Senegal’s Minister of Finance, recently disclosed to the National Assembly that the Plan de Redressement Économique et Social (PRES) had generated 63.4 billion West African CFA francs in the current year. These figures emerged amid tense negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), prompting Waly Diouf Bodian, a key advisor in Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko’s political team, to vigorously defend the government’s performance.
The PRES, unveiled by Prime Minister Sonko on August 1, 2024, outlines a strategy to mobilize 5,667 billion West African CFA francs between 2025 and 2028. For 2026 alone, the government aims to secure an additional 762.6 billion francs in revenue through the initial finance law. So far, only 63.4 billion has been collected, including 7.9 billion from customs duties, leaving nearly 700 billion francs still to be recovered to meet the annual target.
PRES revenue collection: a gap between ambition and reality
The IMF is closely monitoring Senegal’s fiscal trajectory, as the country grapples with significant financial challenges. The government’s ability to meet its revenue targets plays a crucial role in ongoing discussions with the Bretton Woods institution regarding a potential support program.
Government defends PRES progress amid skepticism
In response to critical media reports questioning the pace of revenue collection, Waly Diouf Bodian emphasized that the plan is generating between 15 and 20 billion West African CFA francs monthly. He highlighted that measures targeting land management and money transfers are expected to yield increasingly positive results in the coming months.
The government faces further scrutiny this week during a parliamentary session focused on current affairs. The session will examine the actual revenue trajectory of the PRES compared to the quarterly targets set in the finance law, with lawmakers likely to press the executive on its progress.
