DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Hundreds of workers, union members and opposition supporters marched in Senegal's capital Dakar on Wednesday to protest what they say are broken government promises and a worsening cost-of-living, as the country is plagued by a severe debt crisis.
The protest was organized by the country's main labor unions and the Front for the Defense of Democracy and the Republic, also known as FDR, opposition coalition.
Mody Guiro, secretary-general of the National Confederation of Senegalese Workers, the country’s largest labor union, said the government had betrayed a deal last year that had frozen strikes in exchange for promises of better wages and working conditions. Authorities say a record debt crisis inherited from the previous administration has left the government with little money to spend.
Protesters wearing red scarfs and union hats held signs demanding that the government rehires laid off public sector workers and lowers income taxes. Some chanted slogans calling for the ousting of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko.
The West African country's government, led by Sonko and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, came to power in April 2024, promising to carry out ambitious reforms, which included fighting corruption, creating jobs for young people and maximizing the country’s natural resource benefits.
But the ruling PASTEF party's reform agenda has run into obstacles. A 2025 government audit revealed a larger-than-reported debt of $13 billion attributed to the previous administration. Talks with the International Monetary Fund over a new financial program have stalled as the nation’s fiscal outlook worsens.
Senegal’s debt-to-GDP ratio has surged to roughly 132%, one of the highest in Africa.
The country's economic difficulties have deepened the daily struggles of many people, with young Senegalese among the hardest hit. About 75% of the country’s population is under 35.
Last February, protests at Senegal's top public university over unpaid financial aid were met with a violent response by security forces, leading to the death of a student.
“The country is at a standstill. It is essential that the government finds solutions to revive Senegal’s economy instead of picking fights everywhere,” said Mohamed Fall, a youth activist at the protest on Wednesday.
Another protester, Pape Laobe Samb, is one of more than 700 employees of the port of Dakar that have been laid off since early 2025, as the Senegalese government moves to overhaul state institutions.
“This is not what they promised people. They said they were going to create jobs and develop the country but they did the complete opposite,” Samb, who worked more than 12 years at the port before being let go, told The Associated Press.
The port’s director, who was appointed shortly after President Faye came to power, has described the action as a purge of irregular contracts inherited from the previous administration. Unions disagree, arguing the workers targeted were largely those associated with the previous government, and that the firings were unlawful.
Follow AP’s Africa coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
Workers hold hands as they march to demand that the government honor its commitments and address their concerns, in Dakar, Senegal, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)
Workers hold placards as they march to demand that the government honor its commitments and address their concerns, in Dakar, Senegal, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)
Workers hold placards and banners as they assemble to march, demanding that the government honor its commitments and address their concerns, in Dakar, Senegal, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)
PARIS (AP) — Teenager Moïse Kouamé's French Open run ended when he lost to Alejandro Tabilo 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (9) in the third round on Saturday.
The 17-year-old Kouamé saved four match points but his resistance was finally broken when he fluffed a shot at the net. He walked around the net to hug his Chilean opponent.
Just like in the previous two matches, he entertained a raucous home crowd with his combination of whipped forehands down the line, sharp volleys at the net and improbable retrieves from the back of the court.
Kouamé, ranked 318th, has been quite the showman on his Grand Slam debut, and unleashed two big downward fist pumps after winning the first set. When he broke to level at 4-4 in the fourth set the crowd rose to their feet.
But he could not withstand Tabilo's relentless accuracy and waved goodbye to the fans at Court Suzanne-Lenglen. Still, his three matches taught him a lot in a short space of time.
“I have had a three-set match, I have had five hours’ match, I've had four sets with a lot of stress in this match,” he said, adding that he was happy with how his body held up.
“During matches I didn’t feel cramps almost at all. That was a big question at the start of the tournament," he said. "If I’m playing long matches for three hours, will my body be able to keep (going)? The answer is yes, so it’s a really positive answer.”
Kouamé is from the Paris suburb of Sarcelles and practiced before his match wearing a Paris Saint-Germain soccer jersey. A little while after his match, PSG won the Champions League final against Arsenal on penalty kicks in a tense final in Budapest, Hungary.
The match was beamed live to 48,000 fans at PSG’s Parc des Princes stadium in western Paris — only a few hundred meters from the French Open — and PSG fans going there mingled with tennis fans heading to Roland Garros earlier in the day.
The night session match on Court Philippe-Chatrier between No. 4 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime and Brandon Nakashima was stopped for a few moments as fireworks went off at Parc des Princes.
Earlier on Chatrier, Frenchwoman Diane Parry milked the applause following an upset win against sixth-seeded American Amanda Anisimova. Parry won 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (3). Anisimova was the runner-up at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open last year.
Some fans chanted PSG's club anthem and held up PSG jerseys as she celebrated beating Anisimova.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
PSG supporters gather outside their stadium in Paris, Saturday, May 30, 2026 to watch the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal that's being played in Budapest. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)
PSG supporters celebrate in Paris, Saturday, May 30, 2026 after the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal that's being played in Budapest, PSG won the match. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)
Fans react as Moise Kouame of France celebrates during the third round men's singles tennis match against Alejandro Tabilo of Chile at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Saturday, May 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Moise Kouame of France reacts as he plays against Alejandro Tabilo of Chile during their third round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Saturday, May 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Alejandro Tabilo of Chile, bottom, plays against Moise Kouame of France during their third round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Saturday, May 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Moise Kouame of France reacts as he plays against Alejandro Tabilo of Chile during their third round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Saturday, May 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
