At the bustling Moussala border post in Senegal, a 15-kilometer queue of trucks snakes through the parched terrain, waiting to cross into Mali. Drivers endure sweltering conditions under the West African sun, their patience stretched thin as delays mount.

Daouda Singui Sarr, director of promotion and assistance at Senegal’s Conseil Sénégalais des Chargeurs (COSEC), highlights the mounting challenges: « Transit delays are ballooning, driving up costs for operators who must absorb these expenses. For drivers, the situation is dire—especially during the rainy season when basic amenities are scarce and working conditions deteriorate rapidly. »

The surge in cross-border traffic, fueled by burgeoning mining activities, has overwhelmed existing infrastructure. In response, COSEC has earmarked a 15-hectare truck park in Kidira and is now exploring solutions for Moussala to alleviate congestion.

« Customs and border police have already bolstered staffing here to speed up inspections, » Sarr notes. « Why not expand our modern truck park model from Kidira to Moussala? This could drastically reduce bottlenecks. »

Local authorities are collaborating with transport stakeholders to implement short-term measures within weeks, aiming to restore fluidity to the Dakar-Bamako corridor—a vital artery for West African trade.