Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko chaired a high-level interministerial council on infrastructure development this Thursday, May 21, 2026, at the Presidential Administrative Building Mamadou Dia. Following an exhaustive audit, the government identified 245 public infrastructure projects and assets facing financial, legal, technical, or operational bottlenecks, with total investments exceeding several trillion CFA francs.

The audit revealed 30 completed but unused infrastructures, 25 of which remain stalled, representing a frozen investment of 279 billion CFA francs. Fifteen of these projects were classified as high-priority due to their economic and strategic significance.

The assessment also uncovered 23 underutilized assets already in operation, valued at 1,065 billion CFA francs, alongside 94 ongoing projects—62 of which are currently at a standstill—encompassing a total investment of 5,227 billion CFA francs. Completing these stalled initiatives will require an additional financing of 973 billion CFA francs.

The state’s real estate and land holdings were also scrutinized, with 97 properties—primarily in Dakar—identified, valued at 132 billion CFA francs.

In response to these findings, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko announced decisive measures to expedite the commissioning, completion, and monetization of these stalled and underperforming assets. He directed the Secretary-General of the Government to establish an inclusive task force immediately, chaired by the Prime Minister himself. This committee will conduct weekly reviews and deliver an operational roadmap by June 30, 2026.

The task force’s mandate includes proposing solutions for project completion, defining sustainable management and operational models, and identifying strategies to repurpose and enhance the value of public assets.

The audit highlighted that financial constraints are the primary obstacle. Among the stalled projects, 42 face funding shortages, delayed payments, or insufficient investment allocations. Other challenges include technical hurdles, legal disputes, and the absence of viable operational frameworks.

Sonko emphasized the paradoxical situation of completed infrastructures left idle for years, often due to poor inter-agency coordination, unresolved final handovers, or misalignment with actual needs.

Key projects singled out for intervention include the maritime and port infrastructures in Foundiougne, Soumbédioune, and Ndangane; Youth and Citizenship Houses across regions; the Naatangué ANIDA village farms; and agropoles in Mpal, Adéane, Dioulacoulon, and Mbellacadiao.

Major stalled initiatives include the Sine-Saloum University, 45 Digital Open Spaces (ENO), regional airports in Saint-Louis, Matam, and Kolda, the Ndayane Container Terminal, the Joola Boat Memorial, and the Aristide Le Dantec Hospital.

The government is also exploring public-private partnerships to optimize the utilization of several assets, including national stadiums, parks and nature reserves, and select state-owned diplomatic properties abroad.

Through this comprehensive audit and rationalization effort, the government aims to enhance the efficiency of public investment, reduce dormant assets, and maximize the returns on state-funded infrastructure.