Invited to the "Grand Jury" program on RFM this Sunday, February 1, 2026, Ibnou Sougoufara, a financial markets lawyer and president of Sengov'Risk, analyzed the opportunities offered by Senegal's oil and gas resources. According to the expert, these assets represent a major lever for stabilizing public debt, provided that a pragmatic economic diplomacy is adopted.

According to Ibnou Sougoufara, Senegal's entry into the ranks of oil-producing countries changes the game with international donors. "Hydrocarbons can help resolve the debt issue, yes. Because they are assets," he stated. The former Energy and Mines advisor to President Macky Sall explains that simply possessing these resources strengthens the country's international standing.

"When a country has resources and prospects for exploitation, it reassures creditors, provided that the management is rigorous," he explains, emphasizing the importance of transparent governance.

The "herd movement" of oil companies

The expert also highlighted the inner workings of the global energy sector, where information circulates rapidly among oil giants. "In the oil industry, companies talk to each other. They meet in Houston, London, Dubai, or Rotterdam. It's a herd mentality," Mr. Sougoufara emphasized.

Faced with this reality, he calls on the State of Senegal to adopt a more attractive and less confrontational stance to secure long-term investments: "Today, we should roll out the red carpet for them, keep them, allow them to develop other phases and give them incentives."

Avoid counterproductive conflicts

In this context, Ibnou Sougoufara warns against the temptation of legal or financial disputes over amounts he considers derisory in light of the overall stakes. "Entering into conflicts over 40 million dollars makes no sense when what stands to gain is far greater," he argues.

For the lawyer and risk management expert, energy is a strategic asset that will only bear fruit if it is part of a long-term vision, combined with prudent economic diplomacy and strict budgetary discipline.