Public debt servicing is expected to increase to D13.5 billion, according to Seedy Keita, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, who presented the 2026 national budget to the National Assembly on Friday. He noted that the administration has major difficulties from climate risks and global economic uncertainty.
“A key challenge remains public debt servicing, which is projected to rise to D13.5 billion in 2026. We also face risks from global volatility and climate change. Our response is unequivocal: we will adhere to a concessional borrowing plan, strengthen expenditure controls, and rationalize subvented agencies to ensure maximum efficiency and impact of every public resource,” Keita said.
According to the minister, a predicted 28% rise in tax collection is reflected in the estimated D35.87 billion in total revenue and grants. He clarified that improved tax compliance, technological advancements like e-invoicing, an IT-enabled rental income tax system, and revenue assurance initiatives in the fintech and telecom industries will be the main drivers of this increase.
Keita underlined that the budget is based on three main goals: enhancing public financial management for the effective use of national resources, intensifying structural reforms to create a resilient economy, and maintaining macroeconomic stability through prudent fiscal measures. As a result, a sizeable amount of the budget is allocated to investments in the human capital sectors, which include agriculture, health, and education.
“The budget is anchored on three core objectives: to sustain macroeconomic stability through prudent policies, to deepen structural reforms for a resilient economy, and to strengthen public financial management for the efficient use of our national resources. Hence, investment in human capital sectors such as Health, agriculture, and health represents a significant part of the budget,” he said.
A total of GMD10.82 billion, or 25% of government local funds, is allocated to agriculture, health, and education. According to the minister, agriculture in particular will get a record-breaking GMD1.77 billion in 2026—an 84% increase from 2025 and the biggest in the previous ten years.
“Agriculture attracts an increase of 84% in 2026 from 2025, having an allocation of GMD1.77 billion in 2026, the largest allocation in the last ten years,” he said.
