Senegal’s empty baskets march signals growing anger over high living costs

The movement against the high cost of living in Senegal has moved from social media to the streets. On Saturday, September 5, several dozen people took part in the “March of Empty Baskets” in Dakar, organized as part of the “30 Days for the Right Price” campaign. The procession started in the Castors neighborhood and made its way to the Jet-d’Eau roundabout.

Protesters chose a simple symbol: empty baskets, bowls, and kitchen utensils, to illustrate the difficulties households face in covering daily expenses. Signs and slogans highlighted multiple demands, including the price of food, housing costs, and electricity, particularly through the prepaid Woyofal system.

Movement born online

The campaign began a few days earlier online. “30 Days for the Right Price” was launched by consumers and content creators who denounce the rising cost of living and call for measures to boost purchasing power.

Before the march, the movement claimed over 3,000 supporters. It also called for a gradual boycott of certain products deemed too expensive. The mobilization is driven notably by influencer Bathie Drizzy, one of its co-founders. After the march, he stressed the apolitical nature of the initiative. “No political actor is behind us,” he said, explaining that the goal is to draw authorities’ attention to the hardships people face.

Prices fuel anger

The campaign is based on very concrete concerns. For example, the price of meat has risen sharply: a kilogram of beef, previously announced at around 4,000 CFA francs, can now reach 5,500 CFA francs, while mutton sells for up to 7,000 CFA francs in some outlets. These figures come from reported observations and do not represent an official national price.

The issue now goes beyond food. Protesters also highlighted rent, electricity, and other daily expenses. This broadening of demands gives the movement a wider scope than a simple protest over a few products.

Political pressure mounts

Saturday’s march drew political reactions, including from Aldiouma Sow, described as an adviser to President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. In a Facebook post, he sharply criticized the mobilization and urged young participants to focus on work, denouncing what he called “populist messianism.”

This reaction does not constitute an official government position, but it shows that the movement is beginning to provoke responses within the presidential camp.

Meanwhile, the high cost of living continues to dominate Senegal’s press review this Monday, September 7, indicating that the issue now extends beyond the weekend’s protest.

Movement vows to continue

Organizers do not view the march as a one-off event. Following the gathering, the “30 Days for the Right Price” collective praised the turnout and announced further actions. The question now is whether this campaign can take hold in public debate and elicit concrete responses from authorities.

The government had recently placed purchasing power, prices, and rents among its priorities. The Council of Ministers on September 2 called for strengthening price control mechanisms and accelerating rent regulation. The “empty baskets” mobilization thus comes at a time when street pressure and government announcements converge on the same issue: the daily budget of Senegalese households.

A movement to watch

For now, the mobilization is mainly driven by citizens and social media actors. It is not yet a national movement comparable to a structured political campaign. But its potential is real: the issue touches food, housing, electricity, and purchasing power—four concerns that affect a large portion of the population. Unlike a typical political controversy, the question posed by the “empty baskets” is simple: how much does daily life cost for a Senegalese household today, and what can the government realistically do to make it more affordable?