![President Santokhi of Suriname faces an economic and political crisis caused by inflation and IMF-backed austerity measures.](https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/santokhi-suriname-economy-oil-inflation-politics-imf-crisis-03202023-1.jpg?w=519&h=259&crop=1)
Mass protests broke out in Suriname last month after President Chan Santokhi decided to comply with the conditions of the government’s International Monetary Fund loan agreement—including a phasing out of state subsidies and the introduction of a new tax. The timing of the government’s austerity measures couldn’t have been worse.