Senegal-Mali: transporters aim to improve flow on the Dakar-Bamako route

At Moussala, Senegal, a queue of trucks stretching nearly 15 kilometers has formed, waiting to cross into Mali. These heavy vehicles are idling along the roadside, a clear indication of the border’s insufficient capacity to manage the high volume of traffic. For truck drivers, this situation translates into significantly extended delays and challenging waiting conditions.

Daouda Singui Sarr, Director of Promotion and Assistance at the Senegalese Shippers’ Council (Cosec), shed light on the multifaceted issues. He explained that the primary concern is the increase in transit times, which inevitably leads to higher operational costs for transporters. Furthermore, drivers face considerable hardships, especially during the current winter season, due to a lack of essential amenities at the prolonged waiting points.

The volume of traffic along this crucial corridor, connecting Dakar to Bamako, is experiencing continuous growth, largely fueled by the expansion of mining activities in the region. To address such congestion, Cosec has already initiated efforts by developing a 15-hectare parking facility for trucks in Kidira. Now, attention is turning to Moussala, where Cosec is actively seeking tailored solutions to alleviate the severe bottlenecks, as detailed by Daouda Singui Sarr.

“Our counterparts in customs and border police had already taken proactive steps,” Sarr noted. “They increased personnel to accelerate truck passage. The question now is, why not replicate our modern parking project from Kidira in Moussala?”

Emergency measures are anticipated in the coming weeks, to be implemented through close coordination with local authorities, aiming to restore efficient transport flow on this vital Dakar-Bamako route.