Senegal increases fuel prices, ranks among top 10 most expensive in Africa

Super unleaded rose from 920 to 990 FCFA per liter, and diesel from 680 to 755 FCFA per liter. Prices for domestic gas and fuel for canoes remain unchanged. Authorities state this adjustment brings prices back to pre-December 6, 2025 levels and is partial, as the state continues to subsidize each liter sold.

The real import cost is 1,019 FCFA for super unleaded and 1,044 FCFA for diesel. Since January 2026, over 245 billion FCFA has been mobilized for fuel subsidies, with the annual cost potentially reaching 1,069 billion FCFA without this adjustment. The government attributes the hike to rising global oil prices, with super unleaded up 61% and diesel up 69% since July, amid Middle East tensions.

According to GlobalPetrolPrices data from April 2026, Malawi has the most expensive fuel in Africa at approximately 3.85 US dollars per liter 2,190 FCFA, ranking second globally. Other countries with high fuel prices include Zimbabwe 2.230 $, Central Africa 1.849 $, Sierra Leone 1.779 $, Morocco 1.642 $, Senegal 1.618 $, Rwanda 1.577 $, Mali 1.539 $, Burkina Faso 1.495 $, and Cameroon 1.479 $. Despite a more than 50% increase in domestic prices, Nigeria, West Africa's largest oil producer, is not in this top 10 due to local production.

Conversely, countries with significant oil reserves and large subsidy mechanisms have the lowest prices. As of July 2026, Libya leads with 0.023 $/L 13 FCFA, followed b