Categories: News

Senegal cuts official travel as high oil prices put new pressure on budget

By Africanews

Speaking at a youth event in the coastal city of Mbour, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko pointed to the escalating prices of oil to justify the measure.

Sonko said he had canceled his own planned trips to Niger, Spain and France, Reuters reported, in an effort to cut costs.

Oil prices have edged close to $115 a barrel from about $80 before the war on Iran.

The west African country is facing a financial squueze since the termination of a lending program by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over debt misreporting.

The country faces a budget deficit of nearly 14 percent of GDP and public sector debt estimated at 132 percent of national output at the end of 2024.

The current government accuses the administration of ex-president Macky Sall, who ruled from 2012 until 2024, of having concealed the true extent of the budgetary situation.

An International Monetary Fund team that visited Senegal a year ago confirmed that officials had made false statements regarding budget deficits and public debt for the 2019–2023 period.

The IMF has suspended a $1.8-billion aid programme it had agreed in 2023, pending further information and commitments from Senegal’s new authorities.

Montage Africa

Recent Posts

Malaria’s impact goes beyond recovery

ENTEBBE, Uganda, 27 October 2026 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/ - When nine-year-old James Ssemambo developed severe…

7 hours ago

SAP Empowers AI Developers to Build What Matters and Turn Intent into Autonomous Execution

International Space Station’s use of tabular AI and expanded partnerships demonstrate the art of the…

7 hours ago

Malaria vaccine price deal could save $50m and widen access

UNICEF says a conditional deal could lower the RTS,S malaria vaccine price by about 40%…

12 hours ago

Zambia’s economy grew 5.2% in 2025, AfDB report says

An African Development Bank report points to faster growth while warning that Zambia still faces…

12 hours ago

South Africa green-skills project maps jobs linked to clean energy

A partnership backed by a $1 million grant is mapping skills demand and planning local…

12 hours ago

AfDB approves $503.75m Botswana loan for energy relief and jobs

The financing is designed to cushion energy costs while supporting Botswana’s private-sector and jobs reforms.

12 hours ago