Senegal has taken steps to curb government spending by banning non-essential foreign travel for ministers, as rising global oil prices place increasing pressure on the country’s finances.
Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko announced the measure on Friday while addressing young people at a rally in the coastal town of Mbour. He said the surge in oil prices - driven in part by escalating tensions involving Iran - has significantly disrupted Senegal’s budget planning.
According to Sonko, the price of oil is now nearing double the level originally projected in the national budget, climbing to around $115 per barrel compared to an estimated $62. The spike follows instability in global energy markets, including disruptions linked to the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for oil shipments.
“No minister will leave the country unless the trip is absolutely essential,” Sonko said, adding that he had already cancelled planned visits to Niger, Spain, and France in line with the new policy.
The travel restrictions are part of a broader effort to rein in public spending as Senegal grapples with mounting economic strain. The government is expected to announce additional measures in the coming days, with the Energy and Mines Ministry set to outline further steps to manage the impact of higher fuel costs.
Across Africa and beyond, governments are responding to the oil price surge with a mix of policies, including fuel subsidy adjustments, tax changes, and electricity rationing. Senegal, despite developing its own oil and gas sector, remains heavily reliant on imported fuel, making it particularly vulnerable to global price swings.
In his remarks, Sonko sought to strike a careful tone, acknowledging the challenges without causing alarm. He described the current global environment as “difficult” but emphasised the resilience of the Senegalese people.
Economic pressures have been building despite recent positive indicators. The International Monetary Fund previously described Senegal’s economy as robust, citing strong growth and relatively low inflation. However, the country’s public debt - estimated at more than 130% of GDP - remains a major concern.
Sonko placed some of the blame on previous administrations, arguing that inherited debt has limited the government’s ability to respond to external shocks like the current oil crisis.
As global uncertainty continues, Senegal’s leadership appears focused on tightening fiscal discipline at home, even as it reassesses its position in an increasingly volatile energy landscape.
Nearly 600,000 people took part in demonstrations across France on Thursday, protesting over rising living costs, stagnant wages and deteriorating ...
Armenia could lose its voting rights in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) over more than two years of unpaid membership dues, Russ...
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has defended his government’s ‘Real Armenia’ ideology at the 2026 Global Armenian Summit ...
Romanian authorities said late on Thursday that two additional planes had received bomb threats including a KLM flight to Tel Aviv that had a layover in Bucharest.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance has blamed the war with Iran for the Republicans' defeat in the 2026 midterm elections, arguing that voters who supported President Donald Trump in 2024 turned to the Democrats because of foreign policy and economic concerns.
The war between Russia and Ukraine continued to claim civilian lives this week even as diplomatic activity intensified ahead of planned peace discussions in Abu Dhabi.
A British healthcare worker who contracted Ebola while working in the Democratic Republic of Congo is being transferred to the United Kingdom for specialist medical care, according to British authorities.
Elon Musk was not on the ballot in Tuesday’s U.S. midterm elections, but he emerged as one of the biggest losers after Democrats swept to victory, threatening his political influence and exposing his business empire to greater scrutiny.
Nearly 600,000 people took part in demonstrations across France on Thursday, protesting over rising living costs, stagnant wages and deteriorating public services in a fresh challenge to President Emmanuel Macron’s government.
Armenia could lose its voting rights in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) over more than two years of unpaid membership dues, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin said on Friday, ahead of a meeting in Moscow on 11 November.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has defended his government’s ‘Real Armenia’ ideology at the 2026 Global Armenian Summit in Yerevan, outlining his vision for the country’s future, diaspora relations and ties with Türkiye. Here are five key takeaways from his speech on Friday.
U.S. President Donald Trump has predicted a breakthrough in efforts to end the war in Ukraine after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, ahead of U.S.-mediated peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv in Abu Dhabi on 10-11 November.
Democrats' sweeping victory in the U.S. midterm elections has sent technology stocks plunging, as investors fear tougher AI regulations could slow infrastructure development and threaten the boom that has driven market gains this year.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment