Senegalese transporters strike for lower costs, 2012
Summary
The Republic of Senegal is a key exporter of petroleum products to the rest of the world but gasoline can be very expensive within the country. Most Senegalese people do not own their own motor vehicles and instead rely on public transportation like buses and taxis to travel, especially in high traffic cities like Dakar, the capital. Bus drivers and taxi operators are often obliged to rent their vehicles from companies that require them to pay for repairs and maintenance on their cars in addition to rental fees. As a result, these jobs are often hard and expensive to maintain. In addition to p. [source: nv-database]
Tactics used
Background
The Republic of Senegal is a key exporter of petroleum products to the rest of the world but gasoline can be very expensive within the country. Most Senegalese people do not own their own motor vehicles and instead rely on public transportation like buses and taxis to travel, especially in high traffic cities like Dakar, the capital. Bus drivers and taxi operators are often obliged to rent their vehicles from companies that require them to pay for repairs and maintenance on their cars in addition to rental fees. As a result, these jobs are often hard and expensive to maintain. In addition to p. [source: nv-database]
What happened
The Republic of Senegal is a key exporter of petroleum products to the rest of the world but gasoline can be very expensive within the country. Most Senegalese people do not own their own motor vehicles and instead rely on public transportation like buses and taxis to travel, especially in high traffic cities like Dakar, the capital. Bus drivers and taxi operators are often obliged to rent their vehicles from companies that require them to pay for repairs and maintenance on their cars in addition to rental fees. As a result, these jobs are often hard and expensive to maintain. In addition to p. [source: nv-database]
Key people & organizations
- Alassane Ndoye [source: nv-database]
Outcome
Verdict: partial.
Per the source’s scoring rubric, the campaign scored 1 out of 6 points on achieving specific demands/goals, 1 out of 1 points on survival, and 2 out of 3 points on growth — for 4 out of 10 points overall. [source: nv-database]
The strikers brought attention to President Wade’s controversial bid for re-election, and even though he became a candidate, it was with many unions opposing him. [source: nv-database]
Lessons
- A campaign can survive and grow even when its core demands are not met — sustaining an organization matters as much as immediate wins.
- The strikers brought attention to President Wade’s controversial bid for re-election, and even though he became a candidate, it was with many unions opposing him. [source: nv-database]
- Economic pressure through strikes remains a core lever for labor and pro-democracy campaigns in West Africa [source: nv-database]
Sources
- Global Nonviolent Action Database —
[[nv-database]]
Disclaimer: Included as a teaching example of campaign craft, not as endorsement.
Sources & verification
nv-database— grounding: primary — license: link-only- Built: 2026-07-04 from GNVAD content via T1 balance pipeline.