Sahel Edition

West Africa: Despite Record Oil Production, Senegal Faces Fuel Price PressureF

Posted On 31 May 2025

Number of times this article was read : 1746

In Senegal, drivers are feeling the pinch as fuel prices soar to the highest levels in the entire WAEMU region—even though the country pumped out 16 million barrels of oil in 2024. Behind the wheel and across the economy, frustration is building. Many point to the steep taxes—almost half the price at the pump—as a major factor, especially compared to what’s paid in neighboring countries. Government officials say relief is coming, thanks to plans to process oil locally and tap into natural gas reserves. But on the streets, there’s doubt. With living costs climbing and no visible change in sight, talk of strikes is starting to surface.

🔒 SUBSCRIBER-ONLY ANALYSIS

This in-depth analysis is reserved exclusively for clients subscribing to The North Africa Journal.

Already a subscriber?
Please log in here

More on the Sahel

West Africa: Jihadist Attacks Intensify in Northern Benin Amid Cross-Border Insurgency Pressure$

Jihadist attacks in northern Benin have intensified in recent weeks, with militants linked to JNIM claiming a deadly assault on a military position near the Niger border and carrying out additional raids on security posts along the country’s volatile frontiers with Burkina Faso and Nigeria. The violence underscores how northern Benin has become part of a wider cross-border insurgency spilling south from the central Sahel, even as authorities bolster Operation Mirador and try to prevent armed groups from entrenching themselves on Beninese soil.

Desert Locusts Stir Fresh Worries in North-West Africa$

Small desert locust swarms recently detected along the western Sahara corridor have prompted stepped-up monitoring across parts of North and West Africa, where shifting rainfall can quickly turn quiet desert areas into launchpads for wider infestations.

Mali Army, Russian Allies Accused of Executing Civilians Near Mauritania Border$

Seven Malian refugees traveling from Mauritania were allegedly executed by Malian soldiers and Russian Africa Corps personnel near Ahl El Kory, close to the Mauritanian border, after their vehicles were stopped on March 6. Local sources say the unarmed Fulani civilians were shot or had their throats cut, while other passengers were beaten, questioned as suspected jihadists, then released.