Dakar: empty baskets march marks new phase in Senegal cost-of-living protests

The protest movement against the high cost of living in Senegal entered a new phase on Saturday in Dakar. The “30 Days for the Right Price” campaign, which began on social media, now plans to sustain its actions in response to rising prices of goods, rents, and electricity.

On 5 September, dozens of demonstrators took to the streets of the Senegalese capital for the “March of Empty Baskets,” a rally organized under the banner of the campaign. The procession started in the Castors neighborhood and concluded at the Jet-d’Eau roundabout.

Protesters carried empty baskets, bowls, and kitchen utensils as symbols of the daily struggles households face in meeting their expenses. Signs and chants highlighted key grievances: the cost of food, housing, and electricity, particularly the prepaid Woyofal system.

Social media sparks a movement

The initiative originated online just days earlier. Consumers and content creators launched the “30 Days for the Right Price” campaign to denounce the escalating cost of living and demand measures to protect purchasing power.

Before the march, the movement claimed to have gathered over 3,000 supporters. It also called for a gradual boycott of certain products deemed too expensive. Influencer Bathie Drizzy, one of the co-founders, emphasized the apolitical nature of the effort, stating, “No political actor is behind us,” and explaining that the goal is to draw authorities’ attention to the hardships faced by ordinary people.

Soaring prices fuel anger

The campaign is rooted in tangible concerns. Reports indicate that the price of beef has risen from around 4,000 CFA francs per kilogram to as much as 5,500 CFA francs, while mutton has been sold for up to 7,000 CFA francs at some outlets. These figures, however, are based on spot checks and do not represent an official national price.

The issues now extend beyond food. Demonstrators also highlighted rents, electricity bills, and other everyday expenses. This broadening of demands has given the movement a wider scope than a simple protest over a few product prices.

Political reactions emerge

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

While this reaction does not represent an official government position, it signals that the protests are beginning to provoke responses from within the presidential camp.

Meanwhile, the high cost of living continues to dominate Senegal’s press review this Monday, 7 September, indicating the issue has moved beyond just the weekend’s events.

Movement vows to continue

The organizers do not view the march as an isolated event. Following the rally, the “30 Days for the Right Price” collective praised the turnout and announced further actions. The key question now is whether this campaign can establish a lasting presence in public discourse and secure concrete responses from the authorities.

The government has recently listed purchasing power, prices, and rents as priorities. The Council of Ministers on 2 September 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 are converging on the same issue: the daily budget of Senegalese households.

A movement to watch

For now, the protest is primarily driven by citizens and social media figures. It is not yet a structured national political movement, but its potential is significant. The issues at stake—food, housing, electricity, and purchasing power—are immediate concerns for a large portion of the population. Unlike typical political controversies, the question posed by the “empty baskets” is straightforward: how much does daily life cost for a Senegalese household today, and what can the government realistically do to make it more affordable?