From Dependency to Self-sufficiency: Senegal’s New Tobacco Tax Policy is a Wake-Up Call for Africa
For immediate release
Statement from Mrs. Kouami Kossiwa, Interim Executive Secretary of the African Tobacco Control Alliance (ATCA)
“ From Dependency to Self-sufficiency: Senegal’s New Tobacco Tax Policy is a Wake-Up Call for Africa“
Lomé, 04 August 2025
The African Tobacco Control Alliance (ATCA) commends the Government of Senegal for its bold and visionary decision to raise taxes on tobacco products from 70% to 100% as part of its newly unveiled national recovery plan.
At a time when foreign aid is increasingly uncertain and unreliable, Senegal’s move marks a decisive shift toward self-sufficiency and responsible governance in financing Africa’s development. The government’s plan to finance 90% of its recovery initiative through domestic resources, by mobilizing over 4.6 trillion CFA francs ($8.16 billion) between 2025 and 2028 without increasing its national debt, is a powerful testament to what is possible when leadership aligns with the needs of the people. The tobacco tax increase is a cornerstone of this strategy, contributing to efforts to reduce the budget deficit from 12% of GDP in 2024 to 3% by 2027. In the face of mounting economic pressure, Senegal has chosen a path of fiscal responsibility and public health protection, demonstrating that sustainable development is possible through courageous, homegrown policy choices.
Tobacco is a deadly product. It kills more than 8 million people globally every year and is a growing threat to public health across Africa. Its economic burden is equally staggering; tobacco-related diseases strain national health systems, drain national health budgets, reduce workforce productivity, and exacerbate poverty. In Senegal and across the continent, the poorest communities bear the brunt of the tobacco epidemic, suffering both health consequences and financial hardship.
By increasing tobacco taxes, Senegal is not only protecting its citizens, it is also generating critical revenue for national development. This is a proven strategy that reduces tobacco consumption, especially among youth and low-income populations, while creating a sustainable stream of domestic funding. In the face of shrinking foreign aid, such measures are not just commendable, they are essential.
Senegal’s action offers a powerful example worth emulating. ATCA urges African governments to explore similar approaches that prioritize public health over tobacco industry profits. As they do so, we recommend that a reasonable percentage of the revenue from tobacco taxes be allocated to public health initiatives, particularly tobacco control programs, health promotion, and treatment for non-communicable diseases. Now is the time for governments to act decisively; protecting lives, strengthening health systems, and investing in a healthier future for all.
Africa must rise to meet its own challenges. We can no longer afford to wait for external solutions. The bold action taken by Senegal is a powerful step in the right direction—a model of leadership, courage, and commitment to the well-being of its people.
It is time for Africa to rise, to act, and to lead. Senegal has shown the way. Now, the rest of the continent must follow.
Media contact: communication@atca-africa.org
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The African Tobacco Control Alliance (ATCA) is a non-profit, non-political Pan-African network of civil society organizations headquartered in Lome, Togo. With membership in 39 countries, ATCA is dedicated to promoting public health and curbing the tobacco epidemic in the continent. The alliance is an Observer to WHO-FCTC Conference of Parties, and Meeting of the Parties (MOP) of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products. It has a Special Consultative Status with the UN ECOSOC, it is certified with the equivalence of a US Public Charity organization, and it is accredited as a regional non-state actor with WHO AFRO.
