Gridlock at the Senegal-Mali border near Moussala stretches nearly 15 kilometers as trucks pile up, unable to cross due to insufficient infrastructure. Drivers report mounting delays and worsening conditions as the wait drags on.

Daouda Singui Sarr, Director of Promotion and Support at Cosec (Senegalese Shippers’ Council), outlines the mounting challenges: “Transit delays are ballooning, and longer waits mean higher costs for transporters. Drivers face harsh conditions, especially during the rainy season, with inadequate facilities to cope.”

The surge in cross-border traffic, driven by expanding mining activities, has overwhelmed existing checkpoints. While authorities have bolstered staffing to speed up inspections, the Cosec is pushing for a more permanent solution—a modern truck park similar to the one already under construction at Kidira.

“Customs and border police have taken steps to streamline operations, but we need scalable solutions. Why not replicate the Kidira truck park model at Moussala?” Sarr asks.

Urgent measures are expected in the coming weeks, coordinated with local authorities to tackle the crisis head-on.