Senegal Bans Minister Travel Amid Oil Price Surge

Senegal has banned all non-essential foreign travel for government ministers due to the rising price of oil caused by the conflict in Iran. Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko announced this measure during a youth rally on Friday, noting that the current cost of a barrel of oil is approaching double what had been budgeted for.

Sonko pointed out that oil prices have reached about $115 per barrel, nearly twice the $62 per barrel assumed in Senegal's budget projections. He announced that he has already canceled his own planned trips to Niger, Spain, and France. The mines minister is expected to announce further measures to curb government spending in the coming week.

This move by Senegal comes as part of a broader response from African countries to the oil price rise. Countries across the continent have been reducing fuel levies and rationing electricity. The International Rescue Committee has warned that the restriction on fertilizer supply due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz could lead to a food security crisis, particularly in East Africa.

Despite having a fledgling oil and gas industry, Senegal relies heavily on importing fuel. The country's public debt stands at more than 130% of its total annual economic output. Sonko has blamed the previous government for saddling his administration with this debt, which he says has made dealing with the current oil price situation even more difficult.