Senegal shows strong commitment to UEMOA reforms despite slight dip in progress

The Minister of Finance and Budget, Cheikh Diba, led the political phase of the 2025 UEMOA annual review in Dakar on Monday, alongside UEMOA Commission President Abdoulaye Diop and key government officials.

The review, established under Additional Act No. 05/2013 and conducted in Senegal since 2014, has become biennial following a decision made in Bissau in July 2023. This marks its eleventh edition, serving as a critical mechanism for assessing the economic integration progress outlined in the Union’s Treaty. The technical phase, held in Dakar from November 10 to 12, 2025, evaluated 145 reforms and 5 projects before the political validation session.

While the overall performance remains strong, a modest decline was observed. Senegal achieved an average reform implementation rate of 76.45% in 2025, down from 78.59% in 2024—a drop of 2.14 percentage points. This dip stems primarily from underwhelming results in the culture and tourism sector (-15.10 points) and the handicrafts, quality, and business climate sector (-34.75 points), compounded by delays in submitting the 2024 GUDEF report to the Commission. On a positive note, progress was made in the customs union (+4.55 points), human and social development (+6.58 points), energy and mining (+3.33 points), and public finance harmonization (+1.88 point).

The technical assessments were conducted collaboratively by Senegalese teams and the Commission, described as a fraternal, professional, and objective process. The findings will be summarized by Commissioner Mahamadou Gado, who oversees Economic Policies and Domestic Taxation.

Cheikh Diba reaffirmed the government’s dedication to enhancing its regional performance, noting that the political phase’s conclusions will be presented directly to the Prime Minister in an audience with the Commission President. He also acknowledged the facilitation efforts of Amadou Tchambou, the Commission’s Resident Representative in Dakar, in bridging regional institutions and Senegalese administrations.

For his part, Abdoulaye Diop commended President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s commitment to regional integration, as well as the unwavering support of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and the entire government in advancing the Union’s objectives.