The Praia-Dakar maritime link, a significant step in regional integration within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), is expected to be operational by the end of 2026. A workshop to evaluate and validate various financial options for implementing this link began on June 30, 2025, in Dakar, Senegal.
The workshop aims to define management and operating procedures, analyze financial viability and governance models, anticipate socio-economic and environmental impacts, and propose mitigation measures. It also seeks to identify mixed financing mechanisms such as public-private partnerships and regional funds, alongside proposing a monitoring plan with performance indicators.
Chris Appiah, Director of Transport of the ECOWAS Commission, emphasized the importance of the maritime link in strengthening economic integration. “The Praia-Dakar maritime link, once implemented, will link Cabo Verde, an island state, to the other states of West Africa,” said Appiah. He thanked technical and financial partners supporting ECOWAS in this endeavor.
Mamoudou Alassane Camara from Senegal stressed the need for cooperation among West Africans towards realizing the transport corridor project. He remarked on its potential contribution to West Africa’s development: “We must ensure that the vision of ECOWAS leaders for the implementation of this project becomes a reality.”
Becaye Diop from Senegal’s Maritime Affairs Agency highlighted the strategic importance for Senegal and Cabo Verde. He noted renewed interest since a visit by Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye to Praia in May 2024 where commitments were made to establish the Dakar-Praia maritime link.
This maritime connection is part of the broader Praia-Dakar-Abidjan multimodal transport corridor project aimed at facilitating free movement within ECOWAS through road, rail, and sea links across eight member states: Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.
Through this initiative, ECOWAS aims to transform the corridor into a significant economic hub fostering development and regional integration.