Dakar will host a landmark international conference on May 12-13, 2026, addressing Senegal’s escalating debt crisis. Held under the patronage of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, the event is organized by the IDEAS-Africa Network (IDAN) in partnership with TrustAfrica and leading organizations advocating for reforms in the global economic and financial system.
The conference unites world-renowned economists—including Jeffrey Sachs, Jayati Ghosh, Hippolyte Fofack, Alvaro Cencini, Ndongo Samba Sylla, John McIntire, Grieve Chelwa, and Andres Arauz—alongside former Finance Ministers such as Martin Guzman (Argentina) and Hakim Ben Hammouda (Tunisia). Contributions will come from Debt Justice, CADTM, Afrodad, the African Sovereign Debt Justice Network, Progressive International, and others, joined by senior officials, policymakers, and parliamentarians.
Senegal’s crisis stems from inherited governance failures, including hidden debts contracted without parliamentary approval—revealed by the new government since April 2024. This transparency has triggered a sovereign credit downgrade, market access closure, IMF program suspension, and creditor reluctance.
The conference will chart credible alternatives to conventional debt strategies, focusing on:
- Lessons from recent crises in Zambia, Ghana, Mozambique, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Argentina, and Pakistan.
- Critiquing debt sustainability analyses by international financial institutions and advancing better frameworks.
- Delivering a precise diagnosis of Senegal’s situation with recommendations tied to national priorities.
- Rallying global political and civic action for a fair resolution.
This effort extends beyond Senegal, spotlighting international financial flaws and pushing for debt cancellations where debts are illegal, odious, or unsustainable.
Preceding the main event, an experts’ meeting on May 11, 2026 will extract insights from debt experiences across Africa and the Global South. Learn more about the full conference here.
Join TrustAfrica in advancing pan-African solutions to systemic debt injustices.
