Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on Monday appointed senior economist Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo as the country's new prime minister, days after sacking Ousmane Sonko. The move comes amid a severe debt crisis and internal political turmoil.

Lo previously headed the Senegal branch of the Central Bank of West African States and served as state minister and secretary-general in Sonko's government. A presidential decree highlighted his expertise in economics and finance.

In his first televised address, Lo acknowledged the nation's dire financial situation, with public debt reaching 132% of GDP. He called for awareness of the state of emergency facing the economy, emphasizing Senegal's commitment to reliability.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) froze a $1.8 billion loan to Senegal after discovering misreported debt figures. Faye and Sonko had openly disagreed on negotiations to revive the IMF program, contributing to their rift.

Sonko, leader of the ruling Pastef party, was barred from running in the 2024 presidential election due to a defamation conviction. Faye ran in his stead and later appointed Sonko as prime minister.

On Sunday, Parliament Speaker El Malick Ndiaye, a close Sonko ally, resigned, paving the way for Sonko to potentially become head of parliament. Lawmakers are scheduled to vote Tuesday on reinstating Sonko as a deputy and electing a new speaker.

Source: www.dw.com