Senegal parliament rejects key budget bill

Senegal's opposition-dominated National Assembly rejected a key budget bill on Tuesday, complicating efforts to restore public finances as the country finalises a $2.2 billion International Monetary Fund debt programme.

After a morning debate, presiding lawmaker El Malick Ndiaye announced that the bill was considered rejected. The vote was 109 against, 20 in favour and three abstentions.

The Pastef party, which holds an overwhelming majority in parliament, had long opposed the 2026 revised budget. Parliament had already sent the bill back to committee a week earlier, and the Pastef majority in the finance committee had rejected it twice.

Pastef lawmaker Amadou Ba used parliamentary procedure to request a direct vote, saying lawmakers lacked relevant data and accusing the government of not providing necessary documents. Another Pastef lawmaker, Ayib Daffe, said measures in the bill aimed at combating the cost of living did not suit the party and that no measures were planned to stabilise fuel prices.

Senegal announced in September that it had struck a $2.2 billion IMF debt programme aimed at stabilising public finances, but IMF executive board approval has not yet been announced and the bailout is subject to conditions.

The finance ministry said Saturday that Pastef's rejection came amid severely limited room for manoeuvre, difficulties accessing financial markets and ongoing IMF negotiations. The government said Friday that rejection of the budget would notably compromise electricity supply, payments owed to businesses and back pay for teachers.