West African maritime link moving ahead

Praia-Dakar maritime could be operational by 2026

SENEGAL: The Dakar-Praia maritime link, scheduled to be operational by the end of 2026, came under discussion at a workshop that kicked off on Monday in Dakar to evaluate and validate the financial options available to implement the strategic link.

As a component of the Praia-Dakar-Abidjan multimodal transport corridor project, it is to mark an important step in regional integration within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The aim of this workshop is to define the management and operating procedures, analyse the financial viability and the most appropriate governance models for this maritime link, anticipate the socio-economic and environmental impacts, and propose mitigation measures.

It also intends to identify mixed financing mechanisms (public-private partnership, regional funds) and propose a monitoring and evaluation plan incorporating performance and sustainability indicators.

Speaking on behalf of Sédiko Douka, Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitisation of the ECOWAS Commission, Chris Appiah, Director of Transport of the ECOWAS Commission, reiterated the crucial importance of the Praia-Dakar maritime link in strengthening economic integration and increasing regional trade.

“The Praia-Dakar maritime link, once implemented, will link Cabo Verde, an island state, to the other states of West Africa” said Appiah, as he expressed gratitude to the technical and financial partners supporting ECOWAS in the implementation of the Praia-Dakar-Abidjan transport corridor project.

Mamoudou Alassane Camara, Senegal’s Director General of Road Infrastructure and Opening-up, and Chairman of the Committee of Experts from the Member States of the Praia-Dakar maritime link, stressed the need and the obligation for West Africans to work towards the realisation of the Praia-Dakar-Abidjan transport corridor project.

“We must ensure that the vision of ECOWAS leaders for the implementation of this project becomes a reality. We must move forward together. Together, we can achieve a great deal. What unites us is more important than what divides us,” he said.

Speaking at the workshop, the Director General of the Senegalese Maritime Affairs Agency, Becaye Diop, made a commitment with the Cape Verdean authorities to set up the Dakar-Praia maritime link to improve trade and strengthen economic and social cooperation between Senegal and Cabo Verde.

Considered one of the essential steps towards a more integrated and prosperous West Africa, this regional corridor, which aims to connect the capitals and port areas of eight ECOWAS member states, aims to integrate several modes of transport: road, rail and sea. These states are Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Senegal and Sierra Leone.

Through this project, ECOWAS intends to turn the Praia-Dakar-Abidjan corridor into a genuine West African economic hub, driving economic development and regional integration