« Préparez-vous à des moments difficiles » : Ousmane Sonko annule ses voyages officiels et annonce une cure d'austérité !
Faced with an unfavorable global economic climate and limited budgetary resources, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko announced drastic restrictions and is preparing Senegalese citizens for difficult times ahead. During his address to young people, marking the close of Youth Week in Mbour, the head of government issued a stark warning about Senegal's economic situation, which has been severely impacted by an unprecedented global crisis.
According to him, the country faces a double bind: an inherited debt that is growing exponentially and a context marked by widespread price increases. The Prime Minister specifically highlighted the surge in the price of oil, which has risen to $115 a barrel, well above the initial budget forecast of $62. In this tense climate, Senegal's financing capacity is dwindling. "Fundraising is becoming increasingly difficult," he warned, acknowledging that this situation is hindering the implementation of the program for which his government was elected.
Immediate restrictions at the highest levels of government
Faced with these worrying signs, Ousmane Sonko announced a series of immediate austerity measures for the state apparatus. "I would like to inform you and prepare you for the extremely difficult situations that await us. That is why, from the outset, I have taken a number of drastic spending restrictions at the government level," he declared.
Among these decisions is the cancellation of all non-essential missions abroad, starting with those of the Prime Minister himself. "You knew I was scheduled to be in Niger on the 8th, in Spain on the 18th at the invitation of Mr. Pedro Sánchez, and in Paris on the 19th for a political rally. I have decided to postpone all these missions. No minister in my government will leave the country, except for essential missions," the Prime Minister stated. Further adjustments are expected to be detailed soon by the Minister of Energy and Mines.
A call for resilience and national consciousness
While painting this worrying picture, Ousmane Sonko stressed the need to anticipate and demonstrate resilience. He cited as examples measures taken in neighboring countries, such as deductions from government salaries, bans on luxury vehicles (high-powered cars and SUVs), and restrictions on nighttime traffic.
“If I tell you this, dear young people, it is not to frighten you or put pressure on you, but to prepare you for this challenging world,” he explained. Refusing, however, to give in to alarmism, he assured that these announcements are primarily aimed at preparing minds for the health crises or armed conflicts that complicate the international situation. “Nothing is impossible for Senegal and the Senegalese people,” he concluded, expressing his conviction that the country has the necessary resources to overcome this period of turbulence.
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