Dakar — Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko delivered a stark assessment of Senegal’s market infrastructure during Wednesday’s Council of Ministers meeting, highlighting systemic decay and persistent safety risks that have plagued the country’s commercial hubs for decades.
The findings paint a troubling picture: most of the nation’s markets, dating back to the 1970s, suffer from severe structural deterioration. Between 2013 and 2024 alone, 53 markets experienced at least one fire incident, exposing vulnerabilities in governance, infrastructure, and operational efficiency.
a comprehensive diagnosis and bold solutions
Sonko’s analysis uncovered multifaceted challenges—technical failures, outdated facilities, logistical inefficiencies, environmental hazards, and sanitation concerns—undermining the sector’s viability. To address these issues, the government has outlined a sweeping Market Modernization and Management Program (PROMOGEM), with a strategic roadmap spanning 2025 to 2029.
The initiative targets the renovation of all 528 existing markets and the construction of 67 new, state-of-the-art facilities. A pilot phase is already underway, but Sonko cautioned about implementation hurdles, including funding constraints and bureaucratic inefficiencies.
investment and institutional reform
To breathe life into the plan, the Prime Minister proposed a 47.5 billion FCFA allocation over four years under the Public Investment Plan (PIP), alongside a critical institutional overhaul. The proposal includes transforming the managing authority into a financially autonomous entity with enhanced budgetary flexibility and the ability to secure innovative financing.
Sonko also called for a legal framework update to streamline operations. In collaboration with the Ministers of Industry and Commerce, Finance and Budget, and Urban Planning, he tasked them with deploying modern market networks nationwide and ensuring rigorous management by local authorities and private sector partners.
The reforms aim to restore confidence in Senegal’s market ecosystem, safeguarding commerce and protecting the livelihoods of thousands of traders and consumers who depend on these vital economic arteries.
