Senegal’s Premier Ousmane Sonko initiates decisive action to revive 245 stalled public infrastructure projects worth billions

Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko convened an interministerial council on Thursday to address the country’s critical infrastructure challenges. Held at the Administrative Building in Dakar, the meeting revealed a stark reality: 245 public projects and assets are currently paralyzed by financial, legal, technical, or operational hurdles, with total investments exceeding several trillion FCFA.

Unused completed projects: a costly paradox

The audit uncovered 30 completed infrastructures sitting idle, 25 of which remain completely stalled. These include high-priority projects with a frozen investment of 279 billion FCFA. Fifteen of these initiatives were flagged for their economic and strategic significance, yet bureaucratic and coordination failures have kept them from serving the public.

Underutilized assets and stalled construction

Beyond completed projects, the government identified 23 existing assets that could be repurposed or monetized, valued at 1,065 billion FCFA. Additionally, 94 ongoing projects—62 of which are currently halted—require an additional 973 billion FCFA to reach completion, with a cumulative investment of 5,227 billion FCFA already committed.

The state’s real estate and land holdings were also scrutinized, revealing 97 properties—mostly in Dakar—worth an estimated 132 billion FCFA. These assets, if properly managed, could generate significant revenue or support other public initiatives.

Sonko’s task force: a structured response to bottlenecks

In response to the crisis, Sonko ordered the immediate establishment of a high-level task force under the Secretary-General of the Government. This committee, led by the Prime Minister, will conduct weekly reviews and deliver a comprehensive action plan by June 30, 2026. Its mandate includes:

• Identifying solutions to unblock stalled construction projects;
• Developing sustainable management and exploitation models for completed assets;
• Proposing strategies for recycling and monetizing underperforming public infrastructures.

Root causes: financing, delays, and coordination failures

The diagnostic assessment highlighted systemic issues. Of the blocked projects, 42 suffer from funding shortages, delayed payments, or insufficient investment credits. Others are stalled by technical constraints, legal disputes, or the absence of viable operational frameworks. Sonko emphasized the absurdity of completed infrastructures remaining unused due to poor inter-agency coordination, missing final approvals, or misalignment with actual public needs.

Key projects targeted for revival

The government’s intervention targets several emblematic projects, including:

• Port and maritime infrastructures in Foundiougne, Soumbédioune, and Ndangane;
• Youth and Citizenship Centers across multiple regions;
• Naatangué ANIDA village farms;
• The agropoles of Mpal, Adéane, Dioulacoulon, and Mbellacadiao;
• Major stalled works such as the Sine-Saloum University, 45 Digital Open Spaces (ENO), regional airports in Saint-Louis, Matam, and Kolda, the Ndayane container terminal, the Le Joola memorial, and Aristide Le Dantec Hospital.

To maximize efficiency, the executive is also exploring public-private partnerships (PPPs) for assets like national stadiums, parks, natural reserves, state-owned real estate, and diplomatic properties abroad. The goal is to reduce dormant assets, improve return on public investments, and ensure these infrastructures contribute meaningfully to national development.

The Prime Minister’s initiative signals a turning point in Senegal’s infrastructure strategy, aiming to transform stagnant projects into engines of growth and service delivery.