The Prime Minister of Senegal, Ousmane Sonko, has presented a comprehensive review of ongoing infrastructure projects, revealing critical insights into the state of public assets and development initiatives across the country. Data collected from ministerial departments identified 245 infrastructure assets and projects that are either underutilized, require completion, or could be repurposed for greater efficiency.
During an interministerial council meeting on infrastructure, Mr. Sonko highlighted that these projects fall into four distinct categories: completed but inactive assets, recyclable or valorizable operational assets, projects still under construction, and state-owned real estate and land parcels that could be optimized.
Unfinished and underutilized assets
Thirty infrastructure projects have been completed but remain unused, with 25 experiencing significant blockages. These dormant assets represent a frozen investment of 279 billion CFA francs. Fifteen of these projects have been flagged as high-priority due to their financial impact and the nature of their delays.
A separate category includes 23 operational assets that could be repurposed or enhanced, spanning eight sectors and managed by 13 different entities. These assets are valued at an estimated 1,065 billion CFA francs.
Projects stuck midway
The review also identified 94 infrastructure projects still under construction, with 62 experiencing delays. These projects require an additional 973 billion CFA francs to reach completion, bringing their total investment value to 5,227 billion CFA francs.
Technical blockages account for 18 of these stalled projects, often resulting from coordination failures between project owners and utility operators (water, electricity, telecommunications). Issues include incomplete technical work, delivery delays, missing or uninstalled equipment, and deteriorating structures due to lack of maintenance.
Legal and financial hurdles
Financial constraints have stalled 42 projects, primarily due to insufficient investment credits, unpaid installments, or outright payment defaults, leading to work stoppages and operational budget shortages. Legal blockages, affecting 14 projects, stem from unresolved disputes, canceled contracts, administrative delays, or pending institutional decrees.
Real estate and land optimization
The inventory also includes 97 state-owned properties, 91 of which are located in the Dakar region. These assets have an estimated market value of 132 billion CFA francs, with renovation costs projected at 12.1 billion CFA francs.
Addressing systemic inefficiencies
Mr. Sonko emphasized the need to address operational gaps, such as the absence of management or exploitation models for completed projects. He described the situation as ‘inconceivable,’ noting that infrastructure development must align with operational readiness to prevent future delays.
The Prime Minister announced decisive measures to tackle these challenges, including the creation of a dedicated committee within the Prime Minister’s Office to finalize the inventory and address blockages. He also called for stricter accountability to eliminate negligence and laxity in project execution.
‘The enormous losses incurred due to these delays cannot continue,’ Sonko stated, urging a zero-tolerance policy for practices that undermine the completion and functionality of Senegal’s infrastructure.
