In a bold move to tighten oversight on public spending, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has introduced stringent new guidelines governing overseas travel for ministers and directors-general of state-owned enterprises. These reforms aim to curb what he describes as excessive and unchecked international travel that has burdened the national budget.
Crackdown on ministerial and DG travel authorizations
The Prime Minister’s office confirmed that all travel requests from ministers will now face automatic scrutiny. While Sonko acknowledged limited control over directors-general—who often seek approval from their respective ministries—he made it clear that this loophole will be closed. Starting immediately, every overseas mission by a director-general must receive his personal endorsement.
Shocking revelations spark reform
Sonko disclosed that an internal review of recent travel records revealed staggering patterns of prolonged absences. In one case, a director-general spent a cumulative 30 days abroad over a three-month period, while others logged up to 20 or 15 days outside the country. These findings prompted the Prime Minister to demand a comprehensive audit of all international assignments since the beginning of the year.
Stricter validation process on the horizon
The Prime Minister emphasized that the current system lacks transparency and accountability. To address this, he announced a sweeping overhaul of the travel authorization framework. Under the new rules, all overseas trips by directors-general will require direct approval from the Prime Minister’s office, ensuring tighter fiscal discipline and alignment with national priorities.