« Dette cachée » : la vérité a triomphé du mensonge (Par Hamidou Anne)
On Monday, June 15, 2026, in an interview with RFI and France 24, Ousmane Sonko made some astonishing remarks. When questioned about the "hidden debt," he declared: "When I spoke on certain occasions, I spoke as the head of a political party giving his opinion." Thus, it was from his own mouth, on an international channel, that the admission came: the accusations that had shaken the Senegalese economy were merely the opinions of an activist, not the observations of a Prime Minister who, in that capacity, had authority over the Administration (Article 57 of the Constitution). His statements committed the State and resonated with Senegal's external partners. What level of irresponsibility can a politician, especially one in power, reach to consider his words as having the same value as those of a clown at a carnival?
On September 26, 2024, barely a few months after the peaceful and democratic transfer of power, a truly astonishing press conference was held. Its sole objective, consistent with its political methods, was to slander, defame, and defame. The so-called "hidden debt" fabrication was proclaimed, accompanied by accusations as ludicrous as they were dangerous. The previous regime was alleged to have falsified public accounts and presented false figures to the Senegalese people and to technical and financial partners, particularly the IMF.
The shockwave reverberated beyond the country's borders. Ousmane Sonko, whose penchant for falsehood is well-known, readily embraced yet another sordid accusation. His sole aim was to cultivate a victim narrative and discredit the former regime on the eve of crucial legislative elections. In the wake of this, his agitated, sycophantic mouthpieces echoed his rhetoric. Some admitted to being "outwitted," others praised his epic courage, and the most audacious—a few economists fervently committed to fascism—cried him as a genius. Senegal's credit rating was downgraded several times by Moody's and S&P, among others, and the IMF halted its program with Senegal and froze its disbursements. Nevertheless, the electoral gain of November 17 was commensurate with the gesture: 130 deputies and a host of problems for an economy literally brought to a standstill.
We knew he was spreading falsehoods and had repeatedly stated this in press conferences, interviews, and public meetings. We even drafted a counter-report, which was submitted to the Managing Director of the IMF in Washington. Despite this, the Pastef regime continued its offensive, which was leading the country to ruin, driven by personal interests and an insatiable appetite for slander.
Two years after these accusations, the Senegalese people are suffering terribly. The figures are overwhelming: in April 2024, the public deficit stood at 840 billion CFA francs. It has since skyrocketed to 5.2 trillion , a more than sixfold increase in less than two years. The overall debt has now reached a staggering 16 trillion , due to a deliberate and reprehensible change in the calculation method. Behind these macroeconomic aggregates lies a tangible impact on the lives of Senegalese citizens. Precarious living conditions, unemployment, the halt in investment, the stagnation of the private sector, the collapse of confidence, and the increased distrust of the markets are suffocating citizens, ruining the country's creditworthiness, and threatening the social fabric. The Economic and Social Recovery Plan, because it is in reality a policy of brutal austerity and whose sole aim is to squeeze businesses and households, was destined to fail. Already lacking imagination, talent, and competence, the Pastef regime, through a grand lie, is disrupting social balances and threatening the country with bankruptcy.
On June 15, 2026, the Senegalese people discovered, stunned, that the accusations that had devastated the economy, ruined the country's credit rating, crippled businesses, and left thousands unemployed, were in fact false. In our Holy Book, the Most High reminds us: "Indeed, Allah does not guide one who is transgressing and a liar" (40:28). If there are vices that dishonor, desecrate, and repulsive, lying ranks at the very top. The principal perpetrator of this economic crime returns to the scene of his deed to, with unbearable nonchalance, admit that he was merely making political pronouncements.
The APR was the victim of the biggest fabrication of lies in the history of our Republic. We stood firm, resolutely committed to the pursuit of truth, to the republican spirit, and to a culture of good governance. We never yielded to the temptation to undermine our institutions or to question our partnership with the International Monetary Fund.
No member of our party insulted a magistrate of the Court of Auditors or called for the burning of the IMF headquarters. The truth came out, from the very mouth of those who had claimed the opposite.
Hamidou Anne
National Coordinator of the Analysis and Foresight Unit of the APR
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