The protest 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 ended at 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. Their signs and slogans highlighted several demands: the price of food, housing costs, and electricity, especially the prepaid Woyofal system.
Movement sparked online
The movement began a few days earlier on the internet. The “30 Days for the Right Price” campaign was launched by consumers and content creators who denounce the rising cost of living and call for measures to boost purchasing power. The movement reportedly already had more than 3,000 supporters before the march, according to some reports. It also called for a gradual boycott of certain products considered too expensive. The mobilization is led in particular 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 was to draw authorities’ attention to the difficulties faced by the population.
Prices fueling anger
The campaign is based on very concrete concerns. For instance, the price of meat has risen: a kilogram of beef, previously announced at around 4,000 CFA francs, could now reach 5,500 CFA francs, while mutton was sold up to 7,000 CFA francs at some outlets. These figures are based on reports and do not constitute 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 against the price of 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. He also condemned what he called “populist messianism.” This reaction does not constitute an official government position, but it shows that the movement is provoking 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 an isolated event. Following the gathering, the “30 Days for the Right Price” collective welcomed the mobilization and announced further actions. The question now is whether this campaign can become a lasting part of public debate and obtain concrete responses from authorities. The government itself 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 occurs in a context where street pressure and government announcements converge on the same issue: the daily budget of Senegalese households.
A protest to watch
For now, the movement is mainly driven by citizens and social media actors. It is not yet a national movement comparable to a structured political mobilization. But its potential is real: the issue directly touches food, housing, electricity, and purchasing power—four concerns likely to affect a large part of the population. Unlike a typical political controversy, the question posed by the “empty baskets” is very simple: how much does daily life cost for a Senegalese household today, and what can the government actually do to make it more affordable?
