Cheikh Diba explains details of new agreement between Senegal and IMF

sport Senegal

Ibrahim Mbaye joins Aston Villa for the 2026-2027 season

Senegalese forward Ibrahim Mbaye, the 2026 African champion, will play for Aston Villa in the 2026-2027 season, wearing jersey number 19. The 18-year-old, who trained at Paris Saint-Germain, expressed his happiness about joining the English club and his eagerness for a new environment. Mbaye stated, "I feel good. I am happy to join this team and I hope everything goes well." He will be joined by familiar faces Nicolas Jackson and Boubacar Kamara, which he believes will aid his adaptation. Mbaye shares a close relationship with Nicolas Jackson, describing him as a brother and hoping they can help the team together. The former PSG player is motivated to play in the Premier League, which he considers "the biggest league," and aims to progress and meet expectations. He also has ambitions for the Champions League, hoping to participate with Aston Villa and contribute his experience to the team, calling it "the biggest competition in the world."

SeneNews12 mins ago1 min

Senegal to reform electricity subsidies, targeting vulnerable households

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politics Senegal

Senegal to reform electricity subsidies, targeting vulnerable households

The Senegalese government plans to overhaul its electricity subsidy system to improve social equity, according to Cheikh Diba, the Minister of Finance and Budget. He stated that 65% of current subsidies benefit the wealthiest 20% of the population, highlighting the system's limitations. The new approach aims to shift from generalized subsidies to targeted support for vulnerable households. This strategy aligns with the government's roadmap for phasing out energy subsidies. For electricity, the plan includes a "social tariff" to protect households consuming less than 150 kWh per month, which represents approximately 880,000 customers or 45% of SENELEC subscribers. As of January 1, 2026, SENELEC's tariff structure for small domestic consumers sets the price per kWh at 82 FCFA for the first tier, 136.49 FCFA for the second, and 159.36 FCFA for the third. The first tier saw a 10% reduction to help lower household bills. For wealthier households not eligible for the social tariff, a simulation based on a planned increase of 47.6 FCFA/kWh for low voltage suggests potential new rates: 129.60 FCFA/kWh for the first tier, 184.09 FCFA/kWh for the second, and 206.96 FCFA/kWh for the third. This means a household excluded from the social scheme could pay up to about 207 FCFA per kWh on its third tier, compared to the current 159.36 FCFA. It is important to note that these are simulated figures based on the roadmap's projected increase, not an officially announced new tariff schedule for

Senegal and IMF resume dialogue, paving the way for potential new $2.2 billion financing

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business Senegal

Senegal and IMF resume dialogue, paving the way for potential new $2.2 billion financing

Senegal has re-engaged in technical discussions with the International Monetary Fund IMF, marking a significant step in public finance management. A potential new financing program of $2.2 billion is under consideration, but the primary objective for Dakar is to restore financial credibility, manage debt, and leverage external support for stabilization and investment. An IMF mission, led by Mercedes Vera Martin, visited Dakar from August 19 to September 1, 2026, to discuss financing needs, macroeconomic outlook, and reforms for a new program. While the $2.2 billion is a negotiation target, an official loan approval has not yet been announced. The current discussions aim to rebuild financial trust, which was impacted by a budget transparency crisis in 2024 when higher-than-reported debt and deficit levels led the IMF to suspend previous support. Senegal has since implemented corrective measures to strengthen public finance management, budgetary governance, transparency, and debt management. The IMF acknowledges these improvements but emphasizes the need for decisive actions to resolve past data declaration errors. A new agreement with the IMF would signal credibility to financial markets, rating agencies, bilateral partners, and private investors, which is crucial given Senegal's challenging financing conditions. The country must finance development, honor financial commitments, and maintain priority spending for economic transformation. The IMF notes that debt vulnerabilities

Cheikh Diba explains details of new agreement between Senegal and IMF

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Ibrahim Mbaye joins Aston Villa for the 2026-2027 season

Senegal to reform electricity subsidies, targeting vulnerable households

Senegal and IMF resume dialogue, paving the way for potential new $2.2 billion financing