afrol News, 5 December - President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal has turned his words into action by slicing the size of his cabinet by more than a quarter. Senegal's 38-member cabinet has been reduced to 28, leaving among others the ministers of livestock farming, public hygience and competitivensess in the cold.

Senegal officials said the move is aimed at cutting the high expenditure of the state and that monies will be put in a national solidarity fund.

President Wade had earlier vowed to slice the size of his cabinet and salaries of ministers so as to reduce the pains caused by the hikes of basic goods in the country.

Pundits said despite the trimming, Senegal still has more ministers than developed countries with large economies and populations.

Most Senegalese have blamed the government of not averting what they called "the unacceptable daily high cost of living" in the country. Last month, union leaders led hundreds of people to protest on the issue.

The government's order to evict street sellers from the streets of the capital Dakar turned sour, culminating in a violent strike that saw the igniting of several public buildings and cars.

Chanting anti-government slogans, the protesters blocked the traffic and forced businesses to a standstill. The protesters blamed the government of "blocking our survival."

By staff writer

© afrol News

Related pages and feature

Current afrol News Top Stories