New Delhi, April 6 -- The Senegalese government has banned all but essential foreign trips for government ministers as part of cost-saving measures triggered by the energy crisis linked to the Iran war.

Senegal, like many African countries, imports most of the petroleum products it consumes, leaving its economy vulnerable to supply disruptions such as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has sent the price of crude soaring.

Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko said Friday that his office was taking steps to limit public expenditure, pointing out that the country's initial budget forecasts were based on an oil price of $62 per barrel, which is now almost double as a result of the Iran war.

"I have taken a number of drastic measures to res...