Senegal’s government has implemented a fuel price hike, citing a sharp rise in global oil costs as the reason for the decision.
Beginning Saturday, August 15, the price of super petrol went up by 70 CFA francs to 990 CFA francs per litre. Diesel also saw an increase of 75 CFA francs, bringing the new price to 755 CFA francs per litre. Government officials confirmed that prices for other petroleum products, including household gas and fuel used for pirogues, remain unchanged.
According to authorities, this adjustment simply restores fuel costs to where they were before a price cut was introduced on December 6 of last year.
The decision is linked to ongoing conflict in the Middle East that began on February 28, which has caused international oil prices to spike. Since the start of that conflict, global diesel prices have jumped 69 percent and super petrol has risen 61 percent.
Senegal noted that it delayed passing these costs to consumers for as long as possible, absorbing over 245 billion CFA francs in fuel subsidies since the start of the year. Officials added that keeping prices at their previous levels would have cost the government an additional 47 billion CFA francs in just one month.
Describing the move as partial and measured, the government stated that pump prices still remain below actual import costs and assured the public that social protection measures will stay in place to support vulnerable households.
