Ousmane Sonko criticizes government over fuel price hike, cites "structural adjustment

Sonko views this as a significant shift in economic policy, describing it as a form of "structural adjustment" typically associated with austerity programs imposed by international financial institutions. He also highlighted Senegal's high taxation on energy products, stating that the country taxes energy prices the most in West Africa. Sonko suggested that budgetary flexibility should come from revising this taxation rather than increasing pump prices.

He implied that this price hike was anticipated by his successors after his departure from the Prime Minister's office in May. The government's announcement on August 14 confirmed the adjustment, effective Saturday, raising super unleaded fuel to 990 FCFA +70 FCFA and diesel to 755 FCFA +75 FCFA, returning them to their December 6, 2025, levels due to rising global oil prices. Sonko himself had previously mentioned the possibility of fuel price increases in May to deputies if the Middle East crisis heavily impacted public finances.