DAKAR-BAMAKO TRANSPORT CORRIDOR: Facing Logistics Chaos, Transporters Seek Solutions at the Malian Border

Rising insecurity along the northern corridor has forced hundreds of heavy goods vehicles to detour south, creating a massive gridlock at the border between Senegal and Mali. To resolve these endless queues, a joint delegation from the Senegalese and Malian shippers’ councils traveled to the field.

Usually taken by carriers connecting the Port of Dakar to Bamako, the northern route via Kidira has become far too risky due to worsening security conditions.

This shift in traffic to the southern axis—passing through Kédougou and the Moussala border checkpoint—has rapidly overwhelmed this secondary network:

15-Kilometer Queue: Hundreds of trucks are parked along the road at Moussala due to a severe lack of holding capacity.

Soaring Delays and Extra Costs: Longer transit times are taking a heavy toll on transport profitability.

Precarious Conditions: Stranded for several days during the rainy season, truck drivers face a stark lack of basic infrastructure and amenities.

As traffic continues to grow, driven in part by the expansion of the local mining sector, border police and customs authorities have already boosted staffing on site to speed up administrative processing for vehicles.

To ensure long-term fluidity along the corridor, COSEC (the Senegalese Shippers’ Council) is considering adapting its infrastructure plans:

« Why not replicate our project for a modern 15-hectare parking facility like the one started in Kidira, and build it in Moussala? »

— Daouda Singui Sarr, Director of Promotion and Support at COSEC

Concerted emergency measures agreed upon with local authorities and Malian counterparts are expected to be announced in the coming weeks to relieve congestion at the border post.

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