Finance

Senegal’s Eurobonds Hold Strong Despite Moody’s Downgrade

Senegal’s Eurobonds Hold Strong Despite Moody’s Downgrade
Monday, 24 February 2025 13:25

Senegal is facing liquidity challenges, with its debt reaching 107% of GDP. The government has pledged reforms to ensure greater transparency, and talks are underway about restructuring local bank debt. At the IMF, officials have expressed support for the country, with ongoing efforts to find solutions to stabilize the situation.

Senegal’s international bonds are holding steady on the market, despite a downgrade by Moody’s. As of the week of February 21, 2025, four of Senegal’s Eurobonds tracked by the Ecofin Agency are showing an increase in value, signaling that investor sentiment toward the country’s international debt is not as negative as expected. The Eurobond with the nearest maturity date (2028) is offering an 8.7% return for investors, reflecting the risk they’re taking.

For the other three international loans, expected returns have stabilized around 10%. While the spread above initial borrowing rates remains high, it’s still far from the 12.7% yield Gabon recently secured when refinancing one of its Eurobonds. In Senegal, the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio is now estimated to be 107%, compared to just 57% on average for sub-Saharan Africa.

In 2025, Senegal is set to pay about $21 million in interest on its four Eurobonds, most of which will be due in the first half of the year. Despite this, Moody’s has warned that the government may face liquidity challenges. The initial 2025 finance law, which will be revised, already projected a financing gap of around 20% of GDP, with nearly 12.7% (about CFA2,900 billion) allocated for debt repayment.

A report by the Court of Auditors also revealed a debt of nearly CFA2,500 billion ($4 billion) owed to various local banks, with short- and medium-term maturities. By 2028, Senegal will also need to either repay or refinance a $1 billion Eurobond.

Despite these challenges, the continued confidence in Senegal’s market shows that the government, under Ousmane Sonko, is demonstrating its ability to find solutions that won't severely harm investor interests. Senegal’s authorities have committed to more transparency and reforms aimed at preventing discrepancies in debt figures from happening again.

Internally, sources close to the process indicate that discussions have already started on rescheduling the maturities of local bank debt, with more talks in the works. The IMF, which could act as a last resort for concessional support, has expressed its ongoing commitment to Senegal and its challenges.

According to sources close to the institution, the next few months will be critical, and teams are continuing to learn from past events as they work towards new arrangements. Given the urgency, the government and the IMF are working under pressure to achieve quick results.

While Moody’s has forecast difficulties for the Senegalese government, it has not commented on the private sector’s resilience. On the ground, the economy shows positive signs. Although companies saw a 2.68% decrease in value-added in 2024, according to the National Statistics Agency, the pace of price increases has slowed at the start of 2025, and production costs appear to be stable.

However, more will be needed for the government to fulfill its promises of change for a population of 18.7 million, half of whom are under the age of 19.

On the same topic
• BCEAO holds key rates, citing stable growth and low inflation• WAEMU GDP grows 6.5%; inflation drops to 0.6% in Q2• Risks persist from insecurity,...
• WEF identifies 37 financial instruments for nature, highlighting 10 as priority solutions delivering both financial returns and ecological outcomes.•...
EBRD, EU, GCF, and Canada plan €65 mln ($77 mln) green loan for Crédit du Maroc. Funds to support clean energy, water treatment, and sustainable...
World Bank projects Ivory Coast could achieve 7-8% average annual growth with fiscal mobilization above 15% of GDP. Ivory Coast's tax revenue...
Most Read
01

From Dakar to Nairobi, Kampala to Abidjan, mobile money has become a lifeline for millions of Africa...

Africa's Boundless Future: How a simple mobile phone became a pocket bank for millions
02

Airtel Gabon, Moov sign deal to share telecom infrastructure Agreement aims to cut costs, boo...

Gabon’s Airtel, Moov to Share Towers Under Govt-Brokered Deal
03

• WAEMU posts 0.9% deflation in July, second month in a row• Food, hospitality prices drop; alcohol,...

WAEMU Region Records Second Straight Month of Deflation, at -0.9% in July 
04

Malawi votes in high-stakes presidential election Tuesday Economic crisis, inflation dominate vot...

Malawi’s Election Puts Incumbent Chakwera to the Test on Inflation and Fuel Shortages
05

Vision Invest invests $700m in Arise IIP, Africa’s largest private infrastructure deal in 202...

Saudi Arabia’s 2025 Shopping List Now Includes Industrial Parks in Africa — With a $700 Million Entry Ticket
Enter your email to receive our newsletter

Ecofin Agency provides daily coverage of nine key African economic sectors: public management, finance, telecoms, agribusiness, mining, energy, transport, communication, and education.
It also designs and manages specialized media, both online and print, for African institutions and publishers.

SALES & ADVERTISING

regie@agenceecofin.com 
Tél: +41 22 301 96 11 
Mob: +41 78 699 13 72


EDITORIAL
redaction@agenceecofin.com

More information
Team
Publisher

ECOFIN AGENCY

Mediamania Sarl
Rue du Léman, 6
1201 Geneva
Switzerland

 

Ecofin Agency is a sector-focused economic news agency, founded in December 2010. Its web platform was launched in June 2011. ©Mediamania.

 
 

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.