Senegal’s market revamp: 57.5 billion fCFA to upgrade 528 trading hubs

Senegal is taking bold steps to revitalize its commercial infrastructure with a comprehensive plan to modernize its market network. The initiative, led by the Prime Minister, addresses decades of neglect marked by outdated facilities built primarily in the 1970s and a troubling history of market fires—53 recorded between 2013 and 2024.

The government’s Programme de Modernisation et de Gestion des Marchés (PROMOGEM), embedded within the 2025-2029 strategic plan, earmarks 57.5 billion West African francs over four years to renovate 528 existing markets and construct 67 brand-new, state-of-the-art market complexes.

Beyond markets: agricultural reforms, flood preparedness and digital progress

The modernization push extends beyond physical infrastructure. For the 2026-2027 agricultural season, the Prime Minister has called for urgent corrective measures to address persistent challenges including inaccurate beneficiary targeting, limited seed autonomy, and storage bottlenecks. In a parallel move, digital innovation is being fast-tracked in pilot zones such as Tivaouane and Nioro to streamline agricultural support systems.

Flood risk management has also been prioritized. Authorities have instructed local governments to finalize and implement communal emergency plans, with a national inter-ministerial simulation exercise scheduled for completion before June 15, 2026.

Lastly, the government has urged immediate resolution of the Sénégal Connect Park project, a strategic digital infrastructure initiative currently 95% complete but stalled due to contractual disputes. A revised closure timeline has been requested from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to expedite finalization.