In his wishes to the nation, the Senegalese president announced a vast road infrastructure program financed by the Development Assistance Bank and Chinese banks.
Article written by
Posted
Reading time : 2 min.
After the inauguration of the Dakar-Diamniadio Regional Express Train (TER), Senegalese President Macky Sall intends to continue his ambitious regional development project. In his message to the nation for 2022, the year of local and legislative elections, the president announced the launch of a large road and rail infrastructure program.
Structuring projects to link the main economic poles of the country to the capital and the port of Dakar. Starting with the northern highways – Dakar-Tivaouane-Saint-Louis – and from the south – Mbour-Fatik-Kaolak -, without forgetting the rehabilitation of the Dakar-Tambacounda railway line in the center-east of the country. Work on the Mbour-Fatick-Kaolack toll highway started in November 2021, 85% financed by the Export-Import Bank of China. It will eventually extend the highway under construction connecting the new Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD) to the city of Mbour and its special economic zone.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) also announced a loan of 161 million euros (105 billion FCFA) for the implementation of the first phase of the program to open up agricultural and mining areas in northern Senegal. The loan is supported to the tune of 44 million euros by the Africa Growing Together Fund (AGTF), a fund jointly created by the AfDB and the People’s Bank of China.
The most peripheral regions, even the most deprived, have not been forgotten. Beyond “these heavy infrastructures “, all regions of the country will be affected, even the most distant, for example the section linking the towns of Kidira and Babel in the far east of the country, on the border with Mali, or the rice loop along the Senegal river.
“The government will pursue innovative policies of territorial equity and social inclusion in our cities and our countryside, because all of Senegal deserves to live in decent conditions.”
Macky Sall, the Senegalese presidentin a message to the nation, December 31, 2021
All these projects fall within the framework of the Emerging Senegal plan adopted in 2014, the ambition of which is to promote strong economic growth and more balanced territorial development. This vast program “will last three years and will mobilize sixty local companies, more than 300 subcontractors and will generate more than 50,000 jobs”, Macky Sall announced in his speech to the nation on December 31, 2021. Quite a program as local and legislative elections are announced in 2022. A president who has forged the image of a “builder”, but who nevertheless keeps an eye on the electoral deadlines.