Senegal has begun work on a new national transport strategy aimed at transforming mobility systems and addressing long-term infrastructure pressures as the country prepares for rapid population growth and economic expansion toward 2050.
The initiative, aligned with the government’s Vision Senegal 2050 framework, was formally launched during a technical workshop held in Dakar on June 3 and 4, bringing together officials from the Ministry of Land and Air Transport and the Directorate General of Road Transport.
The strategy is intended to provide a comprehensive roadmap for developing a more efficient, inclusive and sustainable transport system capable of responding to rising urbanisation, expanding trade flows and increasing demand for regional integration across West Africa.
Authorities say the plan will focus on strengthening multimodal connectivity across road, rail, air and maritime transport networks, while addressing persistent infrastructure gaps that continue to constrain mobility in both urban and rural areas.
Rising pressure on infrastructure
Transport demand has been growing steadily, particularly in the Dakar metropolitan area, where more than four million people live in a densely concentrated zone that accounts for just a small fraction of national territory.
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Despite major investments in recent years, including the Regional Express Train (TER) and the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, officials acknowledge that existing capacity remains insufficient to meet current and projected demand.
The Executive Council for Sustainable Urban Transport (CETUD) has previously warned that congestion and overcrowding continue to place strain on urban mobility systems, particularly during peak travel periods.
Outside the capital, disparities remain pronounced. Many inland regions still lack reliable transport services, limiting access to markets, education and healthcare.
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Infrastructure challenges and maintenance gaps
The strategy also seeks to address broader structural issues affecting Senegal’s transport network, including the deterioration of sections of the road system between 2019 and 2024 due to insufficient maintenance.
Parts of the national rail network also remain non-operational, limiting the efficiency of domestic freight and passenger transport and increasing reliance on road infrastructure.
Development partners, including the World Bank, have previously highlighted the need for improved maintenance regimes and better coordination across transport modes to ensure long-term sustainability of infrastructure investments.
Vision 2050 framework
The new transport blueprint forms part of Senegal’s broader Vision Senegal 2050, which outlines an ambitious development agenda centred on modernising infrastructure, improving connectivity and strengthening the country’s competitiveness.
The long-term plan envisions significant investment in roads, railways, airports and ports, with the aim of building an integrated national transport system that supports industrialisation and regional trade.
Officials say the objective is to create a more balanced and inclusive system that reduces geographic inequalities and improves access to economic opportunities across all regions.
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Financing and implementation challenges
However, authorities acknowledge that delivering the strategy will depend heavily on the country’s ability to mobilise substantial financing in a constrained fiscal environment.
Senegal is expected to rely on a combination of public investment, private sector participation and international development support to implement large-scale infrastructure projects.
Experts also stress that effective execution will require stronger coordination between agencies, improved maintenance planning and better integration of transport systems to avoid fragmentation.
Despite these challenges, officials say the launch of the strategy marks an important step toward building a modern transport system capable of supporting Senegal’s long-term development ambitions and its role as a regional logistics hub.
