Senegal has announced plans to close 19 government agencies, affecting approximately 1,000 jobs, in an effort to reduce public spending and improve budget efficiency. Officials expect the move to save at least 55 billion CFA francs ($97.95 million) over the next three years.
The decision comes as the West African nation grapples with a debt burden that reached 132% of its gross domestic product at the end of 2024. The International Monetary Fund froze its lending programme following the discovery of misreported debt.
A statement released after the weekly Council of Ministers meeting on March 4 said the government would also focus on strengthening controls and evaluations, harmonising pay scales, and ensuring optimal use of budgetary funds.
The 19 agencies employ 982 people and had a combined budget allocation of 28.051 billion CFA francs ($49.96 million) in 2025. Their annual payroll is estimated at 9.227 billion CFA francs, with total debt of 2.6 billion CFA francs at the end of 2024. The statement did not specify which agencies would be affected.
Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko rejected the idea of a broader restructuring plan despite Senegal’s challenging debt repayment schedule. The country has relied on the regional debt market to meet its financing needs.
