Senegal’s prime minister clamps down on excessive official travel

Dakar — Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has launched a sweeping crackdown on what he describes as excessive foreign travel by senior officials, including ministers and directors-general of state-owned enterprises. The new measures aim to impose stricter oversight on administrative missions abroad, which Sonko argues have spiraled out of control.

Crackdown targets both ministers and directors-general

Sonko has made it clear that travel requests from ministers will face automatic scrutiny. “I now block nearly all travel requests from ministers outright,” he stated. “However, the directors-general present a different challenge. They often bypass my office by seeking approval from their respective ministries.”

The Prime Minister revealed that an internal audit of recent travel records uncovered alarming patterns of prolonged absences. “I recently requested a report covering the last three months,” he explained. “The findings were staggering: some directors-general spent 30 days, 20 days, even 15 days abroad within just 90 days. This is simply unsustainable.”

New reforms to centralize travel approval

To rectify the situation, Sonko has announced sweeping reforms to the existing travel authorization system. Starting immediately, all foreign trips by directors-general must receive his personal approval. “This system will be overhauled,” he declared. “From now on, no director-general will travel abroad without my explicit authorization.”

The Prime Minister’s move reflects broader efforts to tighten governance and reduce what he views as wasteful spending on non-essential foreign travel. The reforms are expected to take immediate effect, with compliance monitored closely by his office.