Senegal’s Dakar caught between fighting inflation and IMF demands

More than 200 people took to the streets of Dakar on Saturday, September 5, to protest the rising cost of living. Their march extended “30 Days for a Fair Price,” a campaign launched at the start of September by influencers and citizens who film their shopping trips to show how broadly prices for goods and services have climbed.

For Senegal’s authorities, bringing inflation under control is already difficult. The challenge could become sharper as the country approaches an economic program with the International Monetary Fund, with likely budget cuts expected to complicate efforts to calm public frustration.

The government is caught between two demands. It must maintain budget credibility in the eyes of the IMF while also responding to households facing higher prices. The tension is especially pronounced because Senegal relies heavily on imported food, leaving the authorities with limited room to maneuver.

Without visible improvements in the household shopping basket, austerity measures risk fueling further anger. The government therefore faces the task of containing inflation while preparing for an IMF-backed economic framework that could place additional pressure on public spending.