At the end of this year, the president of the Union for a Virtuous Republic (URV-Liggey Senegal) made an analysis of the political, economic and social situation in Senegal.

According to Dr. Souleymane Mbengue, the government has taken several measures to ease the daily lives of Senegalese people, despite a tense economic environment. "The drop in hydrocarbon prices has had a positive impact on transportation costs and certain productive activities. The decrease in the prices of rice, bread, oil, and sugar—essential foodstuffs—has provided relief to the most vulnerable households," Dr. Mbengue emphasized.

He added that in the agricultural sector, setting a fair price for peanuts sent a strong signal to rural communities. Even though shortcomings remain in its practical implementation, he believes this approach reflects a political will to better compensate producers.

Furthermore, Dr. Mbengue highlighted the announcement of a planned decrease in the price of electricity starting in January 2026, which he believes represents an encouraging prospect for both households and businesses in a country where the cost of energy remains a major factor in competitiveness.

"These decisions, among many others, deserve to be welcomed, especially as they come in a context of strong budgetary constraints," he said.

The URV also notes that, since 2025, Senegal has not yet concluded a new program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). According to Dr. Mbengue, this situation, combined with the deterioration of the country's credit ratings, has affected market confidence and led to the withdrawal or suspension of several support programs from technical and financial partners.

"This reality demands clarity and responsibility. It reminds us that political change must be accompanied by economic and financial reassurance, an essential condition for mobilizing resources, reviving investment and sustainably supporting social policies," he said.

 

In this context, Dr. Souleymane Mbengue believes that the development by the government of an Economic and Social Recovery Plan aimed at capturing new resources and restoring the confidence of partners is a necessary initiative, which should be implemented with rigor, transparency and efficiency.

On the political front, the URV observes a generally more peaceful climate, respect for civil liberties, and a clear commitment to breaking with certain practices of poor governance from the past. Dr. Mbengue believes these advances constitute important democratic gains that must be preserved.

Dr. Mbengue went on to say that the challenges remain immense. "Employment indicators, particularly among young people, remain worrying. Tensions in universities over scholarship arrears reflect a social fragility that requires anticipation, dialogue, and consistency in public action. The purchasing power of Senegalese people is experiencing a worrying decline. Farmers are calling for better support from the State. The construction sector is stifled. The tax burden, while necessary to generate revenue, weighs heavily on the population," he listed.

The leader of the URV notes that industrialization is struggling to take off and that the positive impact of our natural resources, particularly oil and gas, is not yet being felt in a significant way.

For Dr. Souleymane Mbengue, 2025 was a year of transition, marked by complex adjustments within a legacy and constrained environment. He believes that 2026 must be the year of consolidation, recovery, and tangible results: credible and transparent economic governance; an effective revival of public and private investment; a clear priority given to employment and local production; and a gradual restoration of trust with financial partners.

The URV reaffirms its commitment to the ideals of justice, transparency and work.