Senegal assembly rejects revised budget law
Lawmakers voted 109 to 20 to block the finance bill without a full debate on public spending.
Senegal's National Assembly rejected the government's revised finance bill on Tuesday, voting 109 to 20 with three abstentions. The vote used a procedural motion to end debate before discussing the bill's substance. This action prevents a public examination of the government's proposed adjustments to state revenue and spending for 2026.
The Ministry of Economy, Finance and Plan stated it provided details on energy subsidies and public investments, but lawmakers cited insufficient documentation on investment execution and debt. The bill had previously been rejected twice by the finance committee before being sent back to the assembly. The assembly's first vice-president, Malick Ndiaye, led the session in the absence of President Ousmane Sonko.
The rejected bill risked blocking a $2.2 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund. The finance committee's report faced controversy during the session, with the finance minister contesting its contents and some deputies alleging possible alterations. The assembly's internal rules allow for the first vice-president to preside over sessions when the president is absent.
Why it mattersSenegalese citizens will not have a public debate on the government's revised budget, affecting public spending and investments.