New travel restrictions for top officials under Ousmane Sonko’s watch

Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko is tightening the reins on public officials’ international travel, introducing strict measures to curb excessive administrative trips by ministers and Director-Generals of state enterprises. The move signals a broader campaign to enhance accountability and fiscal responsibility within government operations.

Crackdown on prolonged overseas stays

Ousmane Sonko has taken direct aim at the habit of extended foreign trips, particularly among Director-Generals, who often bypass standard oversight. Speaking on the issue, he highlighted gaps in current controls: « While ministerial travel requests are now subject to near-automatic review, Director-Generals frequently bypass these checks by deferring to their line ministries. »

The Prime Minister revealed findings from a recent internal review, which exposed concerning patterns: « A three-month audit uncovered that some Director-Generals spent up to 30 days abroad within a single quarter—far beyond what’s justified for official duties. » This revelation underscored the urgency of reforms.

Reforms to rein in government travel spending

In response, Ousmane Sonko has mandated a sweeping overhaul of the travel authorization framework. Under the new rules, all international trips by Director-Generals—regardless of department—must now receive his personal approval before being finalized. The Prime Minister emphasized the need for transparency: « This system will be corrected immediately. Going forward, no Director-General will travel abroad without my explicit clearance. »

The changes reflect a broader push to align public spending with national priorities, ensuring that taxpayer funds are used judiciously. The reforms also aim to prevent the misuse of official travel for personal or non-essential purposes, aligning with Sonko’s broader governance agenda.