Worker Unions Protest Layoffs & Debt as Senegal Debt Crisis Deepens

Hundreds of workers, union members, and opposition supporters marched in Dakar on April 8, organized by major labor unions and the Front for the Defense of Democracy and the Republic (FDR).

Mody Guiro, head of the National Confederation of Senegalese Workers, said the government had “betrayed a deal” reached in 2025 that paused strikes in exchange for improved wages and conditions. Protesters demanded rehiring of laid-off public workers and lower income taxes.

Government officials point to a “record debt crisis” inherited from the previous administration, limiting fiscal space for wage increases or social spending.

The administration of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, in power since April 2024, had pledged anti-corruption measures, job creation, and better resource management.

However, a 2025 audit revealed $13 billion in previously undisclosed debt. Senegal’s debt-to-GDP ratio has since surged to approximately 132%, among the highest in Africa, complicating negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.

Talks over a new IMF program have stalled, leaving the government with limited options to stabilize finances while maintaining political support.

Economic hardship has disproportionately affected Senegal’s young population, with about 75% of citizens under 35. Protesters described worsening daily conditions and limited employment opportunities.

“The country is at a standstill,” said youth activist Mohamed Fall, urging authorities to prioritize economic recovery over political disputes.

Recent unrest in February 2026 at the country’s main public university, triggered by unpaid financial aid, resulted in a student death following clashes with security forces, underscoring rising tensions.

The dismissal of more than 700 workers at the Port of Dakar since early 2025 has become a focal point of discontent. Authorities describe the move as a cleanup of “irregular contracts” tied to the previous administration.

Unions dispute this characterization, arguing the layoffs were politically motivated and unlawful.

“This is not what they promised people,” said Pape Laobe Samb, who worked over 12 years at the port. “They said they were going to create jobs… but they did the complete opposite.”