Stuck infrastructure projects cost Senegal billions in dormant assets

Dakar, 21 May — A sweeping inventory of halted infrastructure projects across Senegal has uncovered 245 stalled initiatives, collectively trapping public funds worth 279 billion CFA francs in dormant assets, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko revealed during an inter-ministerial infrastructure review.

The government’s 15 April Council of Ministers meeting had tasked each ministry with identifying stalled projects within its portfolio. Sonko confirmed that technical assessments confirmed the number and scale of these abandoned initiatives.

The inventory includes infrastructure projects either completed but left unused or still under construction. Sonko stressed that financial shortages top the list of reasons behind these stoppages, with technical hurdles also contributing significantly.

Highlighting the gravity of the situation, the Prime Minister noted that these dormant assets represent a substantial drain on the national budget. He emphasized that construction must align with operational readiness to prevent future waste.

Sonko announced two decisive measures: the establishment of a dedicated committee at the Prime Minister’s Office to finalize the inventory and a formal request for ministries to expand the assessment, as current figures may not capture the full scope. He also urged officials to address technical challenges proactively, particularly in connecting water and electricity networks to infrastructure sites.

The Prime Minister condemned the roublardise, negligence, and laxism plaguing project delivery timelines, calling for zero tolerance toward delays and failures. He warned that such shortcomings have already caused severe financial losses and threaten to undermine Senegal’s development goals.