A group of 191 academics and economic actors in Senegal have signed a statement calling for parliamentary and public debate before the final ratification of an agreement reached with the IMF on September 1st, 2026. While seeking national representation in fiscal policy decisions is legitimate, critics point out the group’s silence regarding a prior domestic decision that paralyzed an entire sector for two years. This earlier decision, enacted in 2024, halted major construction projects, leading to a 25% drop in cement consumption and over 10,000 lost jobs, impacting numerous related businesses and workers. The economic fallout caused an estimated 11 billion FCFA in lost tax revenue, negatively affecting a sector representing 4% of Senegal’s GDP. Critics argue this demonstrates a “selective outrage” from the academics, highlighting a disparity in their response to international versus domestic economic policies. The article suggests a period without IMF support from 2023-2026 also carried a financial cost, absorbed by Senegalese taxpayers.