Protests erupt in Senegal over debt crisis
Workers hold placards as they march to demand that the government honor its commitments and address their concerns in Dakar, Senegal, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)
Hundreds of workers, union members, and opposition supporters marched in Senegal’s capital Dakar on Wednesday to protest what they say are broken government promises and a worsening cost of living, as the country is plagued by a severe debt crisis.
Authorities say a record debt crisis inherited from the previous administration has left the government with little money to spend.
Protesters held signs demanding that the government rehire laid-off public sector workers and lower income taxes.
Senegal’s debt-to-GDP ratio has surged to roughly 132 percent, one of the highest in Africa.
