new travel rules for senegalese officials under prime minister sonko
Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has introduced stringent travel restrictions for top public officials, including ministers and director-generals of state-owned enterprises, to curb excessive overseas missions.
Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has rolled out fresh guidelines to tighten oversight on foreign travel by senior government officials, targeting both ministers and director-generals. The move comes amid growing concerns over unchecked overseas missions that have raised questions about accountability.
Speaking on the new measures, Sonko emphasized strict enforcement: “I now block nearly all ministerial travel requests automatically. However, director-generals have operated with less scrutiny, often citing their supervisory authorities as justification.”
Investigating recent travel records revealed striking patterns. Sonko disclosed that a review of the past three months uncovered instances where some director-generals spent up to 30 days abroad in a single quarter—far exceeding expectations for essential official duties.
To address these discrepancies, the Prime Minister announced a sweeping reform in how foreign missions are approved. “This system will be corrected immediately, he stated. From now on, all travel requests must receive my direct approval before departure.“
These adjustments aim to restore discipline within public administration by ensuring that overseas trips align strictly with official responsibilities, minimizing unnecessary expenditures and enhancing transparency.
