truckers push for smoother transit along Dakar-Bamako route

Near Moussala, Senegal, a line of nearly 15 kilometers clogs the Malian border crossing. Trucks line the roadside, unable to proceed due to insufficient infrastructure to handle the volume of traffic. For drivers, waiting times drag on, and the conditions at the crossing add further strain.

Daouda Singui Sarr, director of promotion and assistance at Senegal’s Cosec (Conseil Sénégalais des Chargeurs), outlines the challenges. “Current issues are multifaceted. Transit delays are worsening, and longer waits mean added costs for transporters. Drivers face even more hurdles—basic amenities are lacking, especially during the rainy season, compounding their difficulties.”

Traffic along this corridor has surged, particularly with the rise of mining activities. At Kidira, Cosec has already begun work on a 15-hectare truck parking facility. Now, authorities are exploring solutions to ease congestion at Moussala, according to Sarr.

He adds, “Customs and border police have already taken proactive steps by increasing staff at the crossing to speed up truck processing. Why not replicate the modern parking project from Kidira at Moussala?”

Emergency measures are expected to be rolled out in the coming weeks, coordinated with local officials.