Senegal Overhauls Treasury to Tighten Fiscal Control
Senegal is restructuring its public financial administration to modernize the Treasury and improve the efficiency of state cash management. Bassirou Sarr, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy, Finance and Budget, said the reforms aim to reinforce the Treasury’s role as the state’s central cashier while adapting its operations to current fiscal constraints and tighter financing conditions.
A New Blueprint for the DGCPT
The General Directorate of Public Accounting and the Treasury (DGCPT) is undergoing a significant organizational shift to focus on its core mandates. Amadou Tidiane Gaye, the Director General of the DGCPT, confirmed the new structure will include:
- Eight accounting directorates and six administrative directorates.
- Thirteen regional treasury-paymaster offices.
- Three divisions reporting directly to the Director General.
- A network of 58 accounting posts located outside of Senegal to serve the diaspora.
This reorganization is intended to improve the management of state debt and financial flows. By centralizing debt management under the Direction générale de financement, the government expects to gain better oversight of national liabilities.
Digitizing Financial Reporting
A central pillar of the reform is the modernization of the financial information system. The DGCPT aims to transition into a primary producer of reliable financial and accounting data. “This reform cannot succeed without a radical overhaul of the information system and the digitization of our procedures,” stated Amadou Tidiane Gaye during a reflection day organized by the Amicale des inspecteurs du Trésor du Sénégal (AITS).
The administration plans to automate various processes and develop modern payment instruments to improve service delivery. This digital shift is designed to align with the principles of public service, ensuring that while procedures are modernized, the fundamental separation between ordainers and accountants remains intact.
Navigating Economic Headwinds
The impetus for these changes stems from a challenging macroeconomic environment. Senegal faces ongoing tensions in public finances and a growing need to mobilize resources efficiently. Bassirou Sarr emphasized that the current reforms are not intended to alter the fundamental missions of the Treasury. Instead, the objective is to leverage internal expertise and ensure the Treasury remains the “sole cashier” of the state.
Building Transparency and Synergy
The government maintains that these systemic changes will foster a more productive partnership with the Court of Auditors (Cour des Comptes). By improving the transparency and reliability of accounting data, the Treasury seeks to consolidate its position as a pillar of the state’s financial architecture. The reforms also call for increased synergy between the Treasury, the General Directorate of Taxes and Domains, and the General Directorate of Customs to ensure a cohesive and effective national tax and revenue collection chain.