Dakar, Senegal – July 2, 2025:
The ECOWAS Commission has been urged to accelerate the operational rollout of the Praia-Dakar maritime link, a strategic component of the broader Praia-Dakar-Abidjan multimodal transport corridor project, aimed at enhancing regional integration and boosting intra-African trade.
This call was made at the conclusion of a three-day workshop held in Dakar to evaluate and validate financial models and strategies for the project. The meeting brought together maritime experts, policymakers, and development partners to chart the next phase of the initiative.
Participants recommended that ECOWAS expedite preparations for a regional cabotage (cobotting) scheme, and immediately implement operational, infrastructural, and technical frameworks necessary to ensure the sustainability of the Praia-Dakar route and other maritime links across West Africa.
Key recommendations include:
Finalizing the ongoing feasibility studies and ensuring consultant accountability
Establishing a regional ship registry with harmonized operational standards
Encouraging the participation of regional investors and citizens in the maritime sector
Developing an innovative procurement system with regional preference clauses
Creating a Corridor Management Authority, as outlined in the project treaty
Ensuring Liberia and Guinea-Bissau promptly ratify the Corridor Treaty
The consulting team was also tasked with refining economic models, optimizing cost estimates, and proposing a modern, efficient tendering process that reflects the specific market realities of ECOWAS Member States. A special emphasis was placed on revising port infrastructure requirements and maximizing financial returns through practical implementation strategies.
Mamoudou Alassane Camara, Chair of the Praia-Dakar Maritime Link Experts Committee, praised the workshop’s high-quality contributions, while Becaye Diop, Director General of Senegal’s Maritime Affairs Agency, called for swift action to bring the project to fruition.
The Praia-Dakar maritime link is seen as a strategic milestone in ECOWAS’s efforts to promote economic integration, facilitate the free movement of goods and people, and strengthen regional maritime infrastructure. Once completed, the corridor is expected to significantly enhance trade connectivity between Cape Verde, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and neighboring coastal states.