Mideast crisis: Senegal preparing for impact of Hormuz closure

Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko chaired a special meeting on Tuesday regarding the petroleum product situation, against an international backdrop of escalating conflict in the Middle East.

The meeting aimed to secure Senegal’s fuel supplies and protect vulnerable households.

Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko chaired a special meeting on Tuesday dedicated to the petroleum product situation in Senegal, against an international backdrop of military escalation in the Middle East.

The priority was securing supplies and protecting vulnerable households.

This meeting came two days after a video statement from the head of government, who is also the president of the Pastef Les Patriotes party, in which he warned of serious global and African economic disruptions linked to the intensification of the conflict in the Middle East.

On Sunday, he had stated that the American and Israeli strikes against Iran could trigger a global economic shockwave, specifically mentioning the risks to the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of the world’s oil transits, potentially leading to soaring energy prices, strained supply chains, and a rise in the cost of living.

He emphasised that countries dependent on hydrocarbon imports, such as Senegal, could suffer significant repercussions, affecting investment, capital flows, financial markets, and food security.

He also called for a swift de-escalation and a return to dialogue on the international stage.

Tuesday’s meeting was thus part of a proactive approach to these risks. Following the meeting, an inter-ministerial committee was established to ensure regular and rigorous monitoring of the situation and to oversee the implementation of the measures decided upon in order to preserve the stability of the domestic market.

In December 2025, petroleum product imports remained significant despite a general decline in total imports (-24.6% year-on-year).

Other petroleum products constituted the largest category at 105.5 billion CFA francs, followed by petroleum products at 90.4 billion CFA francs.

Crude oil imports, however, were not recorded this month.

Looking at the year-to-date figures for 2025, only petroleum products increased (+23.3%), while other petroleum products declined by 14.3% and crude oils remained stable (+0.4%). Overall, the “Energy and Lubricants” group posted a year-on-year decline of 10.7%, to 1,953.1 billion CFA francs.

Russia remains the leading supplier of energy and lubricants (34.9 billion CFA francs), ahead of Spain (9.7 billion) and France (9.5 billion), the latter recording the strongest year-on-year growth (+244.8%).

The war intensified after a joint operation by US and Israeli forces targeted several strategic installations in Iran on February 28, resulting in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and several high-ranking military and political officials, according to Iranian official statements.

This elimination triggered a series of retaliatory strikes by Tehran, including missile and drone attacks against Israel and US bases in the Gulf, while Hezbollah fighters, allied with Iran, intensified their attacks against Israel from Lebanon.

The strikes also targeted diplomatic infrastructure, with drone attacks near Western embassies in the region.

This major escalation led to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global oil traffic and exacerbating economic tensions.

AC/fss/as/APA