Senegal tackles stalled infrastructure projects worth billions in lost value

Dakar — A total of 245 stalled infrastructure projects, valued at 279 billion West African CFA francs, have been identified across Senegal, according to Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, speaking at an interministerial infrastructure council meeting in the capital.

The initiative follows a directive from the April 15 cabinet meeting, which tasked ministries with auditing projects under their purview that had been left unfinished. Sonko confirmed that technical assessments revealed these projects were either abandoned mid-construction or completed but left unused, creating what he described as dormant assets.

Financial shortfalls and technical hurdles top the list of causes

The Prime Minister highlighted financial constraints as the primary obstacle, with additional delays attributed to technical challenges. Some projects remain incomplete due to unresolved connection issues, particularly in water and electricity networks, which Sonko stressed must be addressed before construction resumes.

Government announces decisive measures to break the deadlock

To resolve the impasse, Sonko announced the establishment of a dedicated committee at the Prime Minister’s Office tasked with finalizing the audit and addressing remaining gaps in the inventory. He also called for stricter oversight, warning that negligence, poor planning, and lax enforcement had contributed to costly delays and delivery failures.

The Premier emphasized that infrastructure development must align with operational readiness, noting that building without a clear plan for utilization has led to significant financial losses. His remarks underscored a zero-tolerance policy for future delays caused by mismanagement.