Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – Former President Macky Sall has launched a fresh legal counter-offensive over Senegal’s disputed public debt, formally questioning the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on how it validated an estimate of $7 billion in so-called “hidden debt” allegedly accumulated under his administration.
According to a letter obtained exclusively by RFI, Sall’s legal team, represented by the French law firm FTMS, has asked the IMF to clarify whether the multilateral lender independently audited Senegal’s public finances or relied solely on figures supplied by the Senegalese authorities.
The $7 billion figure, covering the period from 2019 to 2024, was confirmed in a report by Senegal’s Court of Auditors and is tied to what the institution described as “erroneous declarations” and undeclared liabilities during Sall’s final years in office.
The revelation has fueled political and economic debate in Dakar, particularly as the country faces pressure to rein in spending under an IMF-supported program.
Ex-President Disputes Existence of Hidden Debt
Macky Sall, who left office earlier this year, rejects the claim that such a hidden debt exists. His lawyers argue that the Court of Auditors’ report contains “methodological errors,” including what they describe as a “lack of verification of the data used” to calculate the alleged liabilities.
“We raise serious questions about the reliability of this figure,” lawyer Pierre-Olivier Sur told RFI, insisting that the report’s conclusions should not be treated as definitive without further scrutiny.
IMF Asked to Provide Documents and Methodology
In the letter, Sall’s legal team requests that the IMF:
Detail the methodology used to confirm the $7 billion figure;
Specify whether the IMF conducted its own financial audit;
Provide all documents that informed its assessment;
Arrange a meeting between IMF officials and Sall’s representatives.
The move marks one of the most direct challenges yet to the narrative surrounding Senegal’s debt position, at a time when the country is navigating sensitive fiscal reforms.
Debt Debate Looms Over 2026 Finance Appropriation
The controversy comes as the 2026 finance law is being examined under growing pressure from the IMF for Senegal to curb debt levels and strengthen transparency in public spending. The outcome of Sall’s challenge could carry both political and financial implications, particularly as the current administration works to reassure creditors and maintain investor confidence.
For now, the IMF has not publicly responded to the letter, and the debate over Senegal’s true debt burden is far from settled.
