Senegal bars ministers from foreign travel as oil prices surge

Government ministers in Senegal have been prohibited from undertaking any non-essential trips abroad after a surge in oil prices driven by the conflict in Iran, the prime minister has announced.

Addressing a youth gathering, Ousmane Sonko stated that the price of a barrel of oil was now nearing twice the level originally projected in the national budget, Caliber.Az reports per BBC.

Sonko has also delayed his own planned visits to Niger, Spain, and France in line with the new measures. He added that the mines minister is expected to introduce additional steps next week aimed at reducing government expenditure.

In his remarks to young people, the prime minister said he did not want to "frighten" his audience or place undue pressure on them. Instead, he aimed to provide them with a "sense of this world, which is a difficult world", while emphasizing that despite the challenges, the Senegalese people remain resilient.

Senegal’s decision is the latest reaction across the continent to rising oil prices, with several countries cutting fuel taxes and implementing electricity rationing.

Although Senegal has a developing oil and gas sector, it continues to depend significantly on imported fuel.

By Jeyhun Aghazada