Former Prime Minister Amadou Ba urged for stronger political dialogue and restored financial credibility in Senegal following a meeting with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye as part of the National Dialogue initiative.
During his audience at the Presidential Palace, among other former heads of government consulted by the Head of State, Amadou Ba emphasized the importance of this initiative for the nation. He highlighted the necessity of in-depth consultations on major national challenges.
The former head of government discussed several critical issues with the President, including the political landscape, proposed institutional reforms, and the economic and security challenges facing Senegal.
Addressing electoral reforms, Amadou Ba stressed that additional consultations would have been beneficial to foster stronger consensus. He proposed extending discussions by ten to fifteen additional days to achieve this goal.
« The country needs consensus, the country needs dialogue, » he insisted, clarifying that his proposal was made « not on behalf of the opposition, but in the general interest. »
On the economic front, the former Finance Minister expressed concerns about the current economic climate and the impact of global factors on Senegal’s economy. He noted that economic difficulties are already heavily affecting the population.
Amadou Ba also discussed Senegal’s relationships with international economic and financial partners, including the International Monetary Fund. He recalled that during his tenure as Finance Minister, Senegal went six years without receiving any funds from the IMF, and the country went twelve years without an active financing program with the institution.
« I reminded the President that, as Finance Minister, I went six years without receiving a single franc from the IMF. Senegal went twelve years without a program involving disbursements, » he stated.
While acknowledging that this situation did not undermine Senegal’s credibility with international financial partners, he acknowledged that the current economic context is different and requires compromises to secure essential funding and investment for the country.
The former Prime Minister also warned about the consequences of repeated downgrades in Senegal’s financial ratings, which increase borrowing costs and reduce the state’s financial flexibility.
Security issues in a sub-regional context marked by new tensions and shifts were also on the agenda. Amadou Ba underscored the need for broad dialogue on these challenges and increased support for defense and security forces.
In closing, the former head of government reaffirmed his political stance while advocating for a calm approach to national issues.
« I remain in the opposition, and I will stay there. Yet some questions transcend political divides. We must work calmly in the best interest of the country, » he concluded.