Facing members of parliament during a question period at the National Assembly on Friday, May 22, 2026, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Serigne Guèye Diop, defended the government's record in combating the high cost of living. He highlighted the price reductions implemented on several essential consumer goods since the change of government in 2024.

Amid persistent concerns about household purchasing power, the minister assured that the financial efforts undertaken by the state are beginning to produce tangible results in the markets. According to him, seven essential products have seen significant price reductions, including rice, oil, and cement. These regulatory measures, he estimated, have restored nearly 869 billion CFA francs to the purchasing power of Senegalese households over a three-year period. "Price reductions will continue whenever opportunities arise," the minister promised before parliamentarians.

Green lights for the rural world

Serigne Guèye Diop also discussed the results of the latest peanut harvest, which he presented as a particularly encouraging indicator for rural areas. He announced that 230,000 tons of peanuts were harvested this year, marking a significant increase compared to the previous season. This large-scale operation is estimated to have injected approximately 93 billion CFA francs directly into the incomes of national agricultural producers.

In line with these efforts, the minister announced the imminent establishment of a strategic audit team tasked with evaluating the oil sector and closely examining the conditions of local oil production and processing.

With the Tabaski festival just weeks away, the Minister of Trade sought to reassure the public regarding the supply of agricultural and essential goods to the national market. He maintained that the government is fully mobilized to guarantee sufficient availability of food products in order to prevent any speculation or price gouging during this period of high consumption. Through this major roundtable discussion, the Minister reaffirmed that the government's strategy rests on a clear three-pronged approach: targeted price reductions, direct support for local production, and securing supply markets.