At Moussala, a critical border crossing point in Sénégal, a queue of trucks stretching nearly 15 kilometers frequently forms, awaiting entry into Mali. This significant congestion along the vital Dakar-Bamako corridor highlights a persistent challenge in regional logistics and is a key focus in African news today. The current infrastructure struggles to accommodate the heavy traffic, leading to extended delays and difficult conditions for truck drivers.

Daouda Singui Sarr, director of promotion and assistance at the Conseil sénégalais des chargeurs (Cosec), elaborated on the multifaceted issues. “The problems are numerous,” he explained. “Firstly, transit times are significantly increasing. These longer transit periods inevitably lead to additional costs that transport operators must bear. For the drivers themselves, challenges include a lack of essential amenities, particularly during the winter season, which exacerbates their difficulties.“

Traffic volume in this strategic zone continues its upward trend, largely fueled by the burgeoning mining activities across the region. Recognizing this growing strain, Cosec has already initiated efforts to alleviate congestion. In Kidira, a 15-hectare parking facility for trucks is under development. Now, attention is turning to Moussala, where Cosec is actively exploring and identifying tailored solutions to address the severe bottlenecks, as detailed by Daouda Singui Sarr.

“Our counterparts in customs and border police have already taken proactive steps,” he noted. “They have increased staffing levels at the border to help accelerate the movement of trucks. The question now is, why not replicate our modern parking project from Kidira and implement a similar solution here in Moussala?“

Emergency measures are anticipated in the coming weeks, to be implemented through close coordination with local authorities, aiming to improve the Dakar Bamako transport flow.