Senegal Roundup: HIV prevalence, justice workers strike, oil production

HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Senegal stands at 0.3%

Senegal's HIV/AIDS prevalence rate is just 0.3%, thanks to 70% access to antiretroviral therapy (ARV) and strong national commitment, particularly from youth, said Safietou Thiam, Executive Secretary of the National Council for the Fight Against AIDS. Speaking at the Youth Mobilisation Week Against AIDS launch in Dakar according to Social News XYZ, Thiam credited the government's efforts and widespread public engagement for maintaining low infection rates.

‘Strong’ initial results reported from Sangomar field production

Woodside Energy reports the first-phase development of Senegal’s deepwater Sangomar field cost approximately $5 billion. Production through the FPSO began last year, reaching over 94% capacity within nine weeks. Water and gas injection systems are now fully operational. The company highlighted strong performance from the S500 reservoirs, leading to reserve additions of 16.2 MMboe (proven) and 15.4 MMboe (proved-plus-probable) as reported by Offshore. Meanwhile, the S400 injector-producer well pairs have exceeded expectations, reducing connectivity risks. Water injection commenced late last year, with reserve migration expected later in 2025.

Mystical beliefs drive Senegal’s illegal big cat trade

As the morning sun filters through Senegal’s Niokolo-Koba National Park, Sgt. Abdou Diouf and his rangers scan for poachers. Fresh lion tracks mark the sand, and a guttural call echoes through the forest. Spanning 3,500 square miles, Niokolo-Koba is Senegal’s last refuge for critically endangered West African lions. But even here, they face growing threats. A new Panthera report links the illegal trade in lion and leopard parts to mystical beliefs in “gris-gris” talismans, fueling their decline, AP reports.

Senegal secures 33bn FCFA on UEMOA financial market

Senegal successfully raised 33 billion FCFA on the UEMOA financial market on February 14, 2025. As reported by Sene News, the General Directorate of the Treasury and Public Accounting (DGTCP) secured the funds through a simultaneous issuance of Treasury Bills (BAT) and Treasury Bonds (OAT). The Finance Ministry says the operation aimed to meet budgetary needs. While 30 billion FCFA (over $47 million)was auctioned, bids totalled 52.98B FCFA (176.6% coverage). Authorities retained 33B FCFA, with a 62.29% absorption rate.

Justice workers file strike notice and demand satisfaction of their claim

Sene News reports that the National Union of Justice Workers (UNTJ) filed a strike notice on February 14, 2025, citing unmet demands since 2018. In a press release, UNTJ highlighted key issues, including the reclassification of clerks to A2, the recruitment of non-clerk officers, the opening of professional exams for registry administrators, and the implementation of a housing allowance. The notice was submitted under Senegal’s constitutional and legal provisions.