Senegal tackles 279 billion cfa franc waste from unused state assets

The Senegalese government has launched a comprehensive review of its public assets to address a persistent issue: 25 completed infrastructures that have never delivered the expected services. These underperforming assets, valued at 279 billion West African CFA francs, represent a significant financial burden with no economic or social return. The assessment highlights a critical gap in public procurement—the disconnect between project completion and actual operational deployment.

Targeted audit identifies dormant public infrastructure

As part of this evaluation, officials have systematically reviewed state-owned properties, distinguishing between physically completed but unused facilities. These include administrative buildings, sector-specific equipment, and structures intended for economic purposes. Each idle asset represents a double loss: the absence of revenue-generating services and ongoing maintenance costs—security, upkeep, and potential deterioration from neglect. The government’s strategy focuses on reintegrating these structures into productive or administrative use through redeployment, shared services among ministries, or public-private partnerships.

The audit process involves a detailed analysis of each infrastructure to determine why it remains unused. Common causes include facilities delivered without allocated operating budgets, buildings constructed without predefined usage plans, or projects where the project owner failed to plan for essential logistical chains needed for activation.

Budgetary pressure drives strategic asset recovery

This initiative arrives at a pivotal moment. Since assuming office in 2024, the administration has prioritized financial transparency and expenditure control. By unlocking the value of already-paid-for assets, the state aims to ease fiscal strain without resorting to new debt. The 279 billion CFA franc recovery could provide crucial financial breathing room amid high debt servicing obligations and a push to reduce reliance on external funding.

This audit aligns with broader reviews of public contracts and parastatal financial accountability. Rather than increasing taxes or launching new projects, the government is opting to maximize existing resources—a strategy echoing repeated recommendations from the Supreme Audit Institution, which has long criticized weak post-delivery management in Senegal’s public procurement.

Strengthening project governance and accountability

The findings also scrutinize the governance of infrastructure projects. Completion of a building or facility does not mark the end of a project cycle; rather, it signals the start of its operational utility. However, the process—from design to financing, construction, and operation—is often fragmented across multiple ministries and agencies, creating blind spots. International financial institutions have long emphasized the need for clearer responsibility chains throughout the entire project lifecycle.

For the 25 affected sites, several solutions are under consideration. Some could be reallocated to ministries currently renting private office space, generating immediate rental savings. Others may be suitable for privatization or concession under strict performance criteria. A third option involves completing missing components—equipment, staffing, or utility connections—to activate their intended purpose. Final decisions will depend on case-by-case evaluations and future budgetary decisions.

This initiative to revitalize public assets serves as a credibility test for the administration. Success hinges on regular progress reporting and the establishment of measurable indicators. Senegal’s approach could serve as a model for other regional economies grappling with the costly issue of infrastructures fantômes (ghost infrastructures), which erode the return on public investment. Every CFA franc must deliver tangible value, as the government has made clear.