Senegal Appoints New Prime Minister Amid Debt Crisis and IMF Funding Freeze

May 26, 2026

Mintesinot Nigussie

Senegal has moved to install economist Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo as prime minister following the dismissal of the previous government, in a leadership reshuffle unfolding alongside escalating concerns over public debt.

Lo, who previously led the Senegal branch of the Central Bank of West African States, characterised the country’s fiscal position as a “state of emergency”.

The appointment comes after the International Monetary Fund suspended a 1.8 billion US dollar lending programme following the discovery of misreported debt that pushed the country’s debt ratio to 132 percent.

Debate over debt strategy remains unresolved. Lo said his appointment does not signal a departure from the government’s “systemic transformation” agenda.

The National Assembly is due to consider the possible reintegration of Ousmane Sonko as a lawmaker following the resignation of the parliamentary speaker.