Senegal’s Youth Olympics Preparations Raise Concerns Over Rising Living Costs

Senegal is preparing to host Africa’s first Olympic event, the Dakar Youth Olympics, but for many residents, excitement over the Games is being overshadowed by rising living costs and economic hardship.

Some residents say preparations have disrupted their livelihoods, while others question whether the funds allocated to the event could have been used to address more urgent needs.

Mamadou Wadji, who inherited his father’s shoemaking business in Dakar’s working-class Medina neighbourhood, was among those affected.

In September, authorities evicted him to make way for a stadium expansion linked to the 2026 Youth Olympics. Wadji and other artisans were relocated to an unfinished school behind a local market.

He said people in the informal sector should have been among the first to benefit from the Games, but that had not been the case.

The Dakar Youth Olympics are the first Olympic event to be held on African soil. Around 2,700 athletes are competing in Dakar and nearby cities, with the Games scheduled to run until November 13.

Senegalese authorities and Olympic officials say the event will create opportunities for young people through a learning academy and volunteer programmes.

However, many young Senegalese remain focused on the daily struggle to earn enough to support themselves and their families, as frustration grows over the country’s worsening cost-of-living crisis.

According to Senegal’s national statistics agency, around 75% of the population is under the age of 35. Youth unemployment stands at approximately 23%, while most employed people work in the informal sector.

Momar Assane Diouf, a 33-year-old entrepreneur who works several jobs to support his family, believes the money spent on the Olympics could have been used to provide more direct support to ordinary citizens.

He said the expenditure was not essential for the population and argued that the funds could have been directed towards reducing living costs and improving people’s purchasing power.

The Senegalese government has committed 36 billion CFA francs, equivalent to about $60 million, to organising the Games. The amount includes 11.3 billion CFA francs, or approximately $19 million, for renovations to sports venues.

However, Senegal’s debt crisis has left limited resources available to support families facing rising costs, adding to concerns over whether the benefits of hosting the Games will reach ordinary residents.