The Prime Minister of Senegal, Ousmane Sonko, has revealed that 245 stalled infrastructure projects, valued at a total of 279 billion West African CFA francs, have been identified across the country.
Speaking at an inter-ministerial infrastructure meeting in Dakar, Mr. Sonko explained that these projects—either partially completed or still under construction—represent a significant financial burden. ‘These halted projects have created dormant assets worth 279 billion CFA francs,’ he stated.
He attributed the delays to two primary causes: financial constraints and technical challenges. ‘Financial shortages remain the leading factor behind these blockages,’ Sonko noted, while also acknowledging that some projects have stalled due to unresolved technical issues.
Government action to address the crisis
To tackle the issue, the Prime Minister announced the establishment of a dedicated committee under the Prime Minister’s office to oversee and finalize the inventory of stalled projects. Additionally, he called for a reassessment of the existing list, stating, ‘I firmly believe this inventory is far from complete.’
Sonko also emphasized the need for proactive measures to prevent future disruptions, urging officials to anticipate potential technical hurdles—particularly in the connection of water and electricity networks—to infrastructure projects.
Root causes and consequences of stalled projects
The Prime Minister criticized the lack of foresight in infrastructure development, stating that many projects were initiated without adequate planning for their operational phase. ‘It is inconceivable to build infrastructure without considering its eventual use,’ he remarked, highlighting that this oversight has contributed significantly to the current crisis.
He also condemned the consequences of these delays, describing them as ‘enormous losses’ for the country. Furthermore, Sonko pointed to systemic issues such as negligence, laxity, and deliberate delays as major contributors to the problem, declaring, ‘Moving forward, a zero-tolerance policy must be enforced to address these failures.’
