Senegal’s Rejected 2026 Budget Returns to Committee

Senegal’s National Assembly President Ousmane Sonko said the rejected revised 2026 budget would return to the finance committee for review, reopening a legislative process central to the government’s effort to secure a new International Monetary Fund programme. Sonko said during a parliamentary debate on October 27 that Finance Minister Cheikh Diba had requested another committee review. He said he would work to set dates for the committee proceedings and a subsequent plenary session. The committee rejected the bill the previous week, and lawmakers had been scheduled to consider it on October 27. The proposed budget projects real gross domestic product growth of 2.7% in 2026, down from roughly 5%, and a deficit of 7.6% of GDP, compared with 5.4%. The figures were reported as part of the amended budget; the available reporting does not establish whether the committee will recommend changes during its renewed review. Prime Minister Ahmadou Al Aminou Mohamed Lo has urged dialogue with Pastef, the party led by Sonko, whose members rejected the bill in committee. Lo said the government would continue discussions and could use constitutional tools if the deadlock persisted. He had...