Reporting from Dakar

Near Moussala, Senegal, a queue stretching nearly 15 kilometers awaits clearance at the Mali border. Trucks line the road, unable to proceed due to insufficient infrastructure to handle the volume. For drivers, these delays translate into rising costs and mounting frustration.

Daouda Singui Sarr, director of promotion and support at the Senegalese Shippers’ Council (Cosec), highlights the challenges. «Transit delays are worsening, leading to additional expenses for transporters. Drivers face further hardships—lack of adequate facilities, especially during the rainy season, exacerbates their struggles,» he explains.

Traffic in the region continues to surge, driven by growing mining activities. In Kidira, Cosec has already established a 15-hectare truck parking lot. Now, Moussala requires tailored solutions to ease congestion, adds Sarr.

«Customs and border police have already bolstered staffing to speed up truck processing. Why not replicate the modern parking project from Kidira to Moussala?»

Urgent measures are expected in the coming weeks, coordinated with local authorities.