Truckers press for smoother transit on Dakar-Bamako corridor

At Moussala, in Senegal, a queue of nearly 15 kilometers has formed as trucks wait to cross into Mali. The congestion stems from insufficient infrastructure to handle the growing volume of goods moving between Dakar and Bamako. For drivers, this translates into longer delays and mounting operational challenges.

Daouda Singui Sarr, director of promotion and assistance at Cosec—Senegal’s Shippers’ Council—highlights the immediate concerns. « Transit delays are stretching thin, and that means extra costs for transporters. Drivers also face harsh conditions, especially during the rainy season. Basic amenities are scarce, making the wait even more difficult,» he explains.

The surge in truck traffic is linked to expanding mining activities along the route. In Kidira, Cosec has already established a 15-hectare parking lot to ease congestion. Now, attention is turning to Moussala, where officials are exploring solutions to manage the bottleneck.

« Border and customs officials have already bolstered staffing at key checkpoints to speed up truck processing. Why not adopt the same approach we used in Kidira—a modern parking facility in Moussala?» Sarr suggests.

Local authorities are working on urgent measures to address the issue in the coming weeks, aiming to reduce wait times and improve conditions for drivers navigating this critical trade corridor.