Senegal: Following the September 1 IMF agreement, Bass Jamal seeks investments in Washington and Abu Dhabi

Senegal signed a new agreement with the International Monetary Fund (FMI) on September 1, 2026, paving the way for discussions on restructuring its debt, which is deemed unsustainable. Following this, President Bass Jamal traveled to the United States and then to the United Arab Emirates to revive the national economy and restore the confidence of international donors, according to a note from the RTS (Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise). The FMI welcomed the Senegalese authorities' intention to seek debt treatment to restore fiscal viability, although no formal agreement has yet been approved by its executive board. Donors have stated they are ready to initiate disbursements once this approval is obtained. The President defended the driving role of the private sector, stating that it is up neither to the World Bank nor the FMI to develop the country, but rather to Senegal's leaders to present credible programs; Dakar has submitted such a program to the Washington-based institution. Approval by the FMI board is a prerequisite for the resumption of multilateral disbursements and Senegal's access to financial markets at lower costs, while directly influencing its sovereign rating and private investor appetite. This trip combines technical negotiations with the FMI with bilateral economic diplomacy with the United Arab Emirates, an increasingly active donor in West Africa.