Senegal Forms New Government After Prime Minister Dismissal

Senegal formed a new government on Monday after the president dismissed the previous prime minister last month. The president appointed 30 new ministers, including at least three members of the former prime minister's party. The former prime minister said his party will not participate in the new government. He stated that points of disagreement had emerged in discussions with the president.

The new prime minister announced the ministerial list. The previous administration reportedly amassed billions of dollars in undisclosed debt, causing Senegal's total debt to exceed $40 billion, or 132 percent of GDP. The IMF froze its $1.8 billion lending program over the debt controversy.

Government officials said before the dismissal that they expect to resume talks with the IMF on June 8 and possibly agree on key points by the end of the month.

The former prime minister was elected parliament speaker after his dismissal as prime minister. His party controls 130 of 165 seats in the legislative chamber. A consulting fellow at Chatham House said the new government thinks it makes sense to negotiate with the IMF.

The former prime minister took a tougher stance and opposed restructuring. Africa Sustainability Matters reported that the former prime minister retains substantial support within parliament, creating uncertainty over the government's ability to secure consensus on fiscal and economic reforms.