Sénégal’s 2025 UEMOA Review Highlights Mixed Progress in Regional Integration Efforts
Dakar recently hosted a pivotal gathering as Minister of Finance and Budget Cheikh Diba presided over the political phase of the annual UEMOA review of reforms, policies, programs, and community projects in Sénégal. The high-profile session brought together President of the UEMOA Commission Abdoulaye Diop and key government officials to assess the country’s compliance with regional integration mandates.
The review, mandated by UEMOA’s Additional Act No. 05/2013 of October 24, 2013, has been conducted in Sénégal since 2014 and transitioned to a biennial format following a decision made in Bissau in July 2023. This marks the eleventh iteration of the evaluation process, designed as a critical tool to strengthen economic integration within the West African economic bloc. The technical phase, held in Dakar from November 10 to 12, 2025, examined 145 reforms and five projects before the political phase validated the findings.
Sénégal’s Reform Implementation Dips Slightly in 2025
The overall assessment reveals a generally positive trajectory, though with a modest setback. Sénégal’s average implementation rate for UEMOA-mandated reforms stood at 76.45% in 2025, down from 78.59% in 2024—a decline of 2.14 percentage points. This dip is primarily attributed to underwhelming performance in the culture and tourism sector (-15.10 points) and the crafts, quality, and business climate domain (-34.75 points), compounded by delays in submitting the 2024 report from the GUDEF to the Commission.
On a brighter note, notable improvements were recorded in the customs union (+4.55 points), human and social development (+6.58 points), energy and mining (+3.33 points), and public finance harmonization (+1.88 point).
Collaborative Efforts Drive the Review Process
The political phase followed intensive technical deliberations between Sénégal’s teams and the UEMOA Commission, described as a process marked by fraternal, professional, and objective collaboration. The synthesis of these discussions will be presented by Commissioner Mahamadou Gado, who oversees Economic Policies and Domestic Taxation.
Minister Cheikh Diba reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing its regional performance, emphasizing that the conclusions of this political phase will be directly submitted to the Prime Minister during a meeting with the Commission’s President. Diba also praised Amadou Tchambou, the UEMOA’s Resident Representative in Dakar, for his instrumental role in facilitating seamless coordination between the regional institution and Sénégal’s administrative bodies.
During the session, Abdoulaye Diop commended President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s dedication to regional integration, as well as the unwavering support of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and the entire government in advancing the Union’s objectives.
