Senegal’s new govt cuts prices of essential commodities

Thursday, June 13, 2024 - The new Senegalese government has unveiled measures to reduce the price of rice, oil, bread, and other basic items to address cost-of-living concerns amid high unemployment and inflation.

The country's budget Minister Cheikh Diba confirmed the development.

Recall that President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who won the March election, vowed during the campaign to address high living costs in the West African nation that heavily relies on imports.

Under the new measures, the price of a kilo (2.2 pounds) of the most widely consumed type of rice will be reduced by 40 CFA ($0.065, 0.061 euros), while a baguette will cost 15 CFA (0.023 euros) less, the government announced at a media conference, Agence France-Presse reports.

The reductions, which also cover cement and fertiliser, will take effect in the next few days, government Secretary General Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo told reporters.

Spending on food accounts for half a Senegalese household’s budget, Lo said, adding checks would be stepped up to ensure traders respect the new prices.

Budget Minister Cheikh Diba said the government would forego taxes and customs duties imposed on importers to subsidise the price cuts.

The measures will cost 53.3 billion CFA (more than 81 million euros, $87 million), Diba said.

This comes after Senegal joined the club of oil-producing countries this week as Australian group Woodside Energy announced that production had started in the country’s first offshore project.

Faye vowed that profits from the country’s gas and oil resources would be “well managed.”