Outdated infrastructure and security risks drive demand for market reform
The Prime Minister of Senegal has highlighted the urgent need to address the deteriorating state of the country’s markets, citing both structural decay and serious security concerns as critical issues.
Speaking at the most recent Council of Ministers meeting, Ousmane Sonko emphasized that over half of the nation’s commercial spaces suffer from outdated facilities, creating hazards for vendors and shoppers alike. His assessment revealed systemic challenges spanning technical, infrastructural, organizational, environmental, and sanitation domains.
Fire hazards and market vulnerability
Data presented by the government shows that between 2013 and 2024, 53 markets across Senegal experienced one or more major fire incidents. These events have not only disrupted commerce but also posed life-threatening risks to local communities.
In response, the government’s Market Modernization and Management Program (PROMOGEM) has been working to implement long-term solutions. The initiative recently finalized a five-year strategic development plan (2025-2029) to overhaul the market landscape in Senegal.
A vision for structural transformation
The Prime Minister’s proposals include a major institutional overhaul of PROMOGEM, transforming it into a fully autonomous administrative and financial entity. This new structure would be allocated a 57.5 billion CFA franc budget over four years, drawn from the national public investment plan.
Key objectives of this reform include:
- Restructuring 528 existing markets to meet modern safety and functionality standards
- Constructing 67 new state-of-the-art markets across the country
- Enhancing operational agility and financial efficiency to attract innovative funding
- Ensuring strict governance by local authorities and private sector partners
The Prime Minister has called on the Minister of Industry and Commerce and the Minister of Finance and Budget to collaborate in designing and executing this nationwide modernization initiative. His directive stresses the importance of rigorous management of these commercial assets to guarantee sustainability and public safety.