The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has estimated, in a communiqué published on 15 September, that the growth of the Senegalese economy should speed up to reach 6% in 2016, thanks notably to an ambitious development plan launched by the government, increasing trade exchanges with Mali and the drop in oil prices on the international market.

This West African country, which remains one of the most stable democracies on the continent, received several billions of dollars in investment pledges as part of Plan Sénégal Émergent (PSE) aiming to diversify the economy beyond fishing, agriculture and tourism and to double growth over the next decade.

"The economic prospects of Senegal remain favourable with a growth rate of more than 5% and 6% in 2016", declared Ali Mansoor, who led a recent mission of IMF experts to Senegal.

The IMF has moreover noted that inflation, which was around 0.6% in August, should remain low, while the budget deficit set by the government in 2016 is in the order of 4.2% of GDP.

The institution has, however, emphasised that the achievement of a growth rate of 7 or 8% per year requires the "preservation of a healthy macroeconomic framework", as well as "the acceleration of reforms aimed at promoting private investment".