Amadou Ba, former Prime Minister of Sénégal, called for intensified political dialogue and restored financial credibility during a meeting with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye as part of the National Dialogue.
During the audience at the Palais de la République, Ba joined other former heads of government in praising the initiative as crucial for the nation. He emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive discussions on major national issues to foster unity and progress.
The former government leader shared insights on key topics discussed with the President, including political stability, proposed institutional reforms, and the pressing economic and security challenges facing Sénégal.
On electoral reforms, Amadou Ba suggested extending the ongoing discussions by an additional ten to fifteen days to allow for deeper consensus-building. He stressed that the country requires broad-based dialogue to address pressing concerns effectively.
«Sénégal needs consensus, Sénégal needs dialogue,» he affirmed, clarifying that his proposal was made not as an opposition figure but in the national interest. He urged all stakeholders to prioritize national unity over political divisions.
Addressing economic concerns, the former Finance Minister expressed deep worries about the current economic climate and its impact on everyday citizens. The deteriorating global context, he noted, is already straining the country’s financial stability and public welfare.
Ba highlighted Sénégal’s strained relationship with international financial partners, particularly the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He recalled that during his tenure as Finance Minister, Sénégal operated without an IMF funding program for several years—a period spanning six years without any IMF disbursements. Overall, the country went twelve years without a program involving financial disbursements.
Despite these challenges, Ba acknowledged that Sénégal maintained its financial credibility. However, he warned that the current economic landscape demands urgent compromises to secure essential funding and investment for the nation’s future.
He also drew attention to the negative repercussions of successive credit rating downgrades, which have increased borrowing costs and limited the government’s financial flexibility. These downgrades, he argued, threaten to further destabilize an already fragile economy.
Security concerns were another focal point of the discussions. With subregional tensions escalating, Ba underscored the importance of inclusive dialogue and enhanced support for defense and security forces to safeguard national stability.
In closing, the former Prime Minister reaffirmed his opposition stance while advocating for a balanced, non-partisan approach to national issues. «I remain in the opposition, and I will stay there,» he stated. «Yet certain challenges transcend political divides. We must work calmly and collectively for the greater good of the country.»