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Hundreds Protest in Dakar over Government Promises and Rising Living Costs in Senegal
Hundreds of workers, union members and opposition supporters marched in Dakar on Wednesday to protest unfulfilled government promises and increasing living costs amid a debt crisis. The demonstration was organized by major labor unions and the opposition coalition Front for the Defense of Democracy and the Republic.
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DAKAR, Senegal -- Hundreds of workers, union members and opposition supporters marched in Senegal's capital, Dakar, on Wednesday to protest unfulfilled government promises and a rising cost of living. The country faces a severe debt crisis. The protest was organized by the country's main labor unions and the Front for the Defense of Democracy and the Republic, an opposition coalition.
Mody Guiro, secretary-general of the National Confederation of Senegalese Workers, Senegal's largest labor union, stated that the government had not honored a deal from last year. That deal had frozen strikes in exchange for commitments to improve wages and working conditions.
Authorities attribute the constraints to a record debt crisis inherited from the previous administration, which has limited available funds.
Protesters wore red scarves and union hats while holding signs that called for the government to rehire laid-off public sector workers and reduce income taxes. Some participants chanted slogans demanding the removal of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. The demonstration highlighted ongoing economic challenges affecting daily life in the West African nation.
Senegal's government, led by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, assumed power in April 2024.
The ruling PASTEF party had pledged reforms to combat corruption, generate employment for young people and optimize benefits from natural resources. However, implementation of these reforms has encountered obstacles. A government audit in 2025 identified a national debt of $13 billion, larger than previously reported and linked to the prior administration.
Negotiations with the International Monetary Fund for a new financial program have stalled amid a deteriorating fiscal situation. Senegal's debt-to-GDP ratio stands at approximately 132%, among the highest in Africa. The economic difficulties have intensified hardships for residents, particularly young people, who comprise about 75% of the population under age 35.
