Mali Gains Atlantic Access Through Senegal

River in $800M Trade Corridor Project

For decades, Mali’s landlocked geography has imposed heavy logistical and financial burdens on its economy, forcing exporters to rely on long and often fragile overland corridors to coastal ports. That reality is set to shift dramatically with the launch of the Saint-Louis–Ambidédi navigation corridor along the Senegal River, a transformative infrastructure project designed to connect Mali directly to the Atlantic Ocean. The laying of the project’s first stone is scheduled for April 2026, marking the formal start of works that will eventually link Ambidédi in Mali’s Kayes region to the historic port city of Saint-Louis, creating a continuous inland waterway stretching nearly 900 kilometers.

Backed by the Organisation pour la Mise en Valeur du Fleuve Sénégal and implemented through its navigation arm, Société de Gestion et d’Exploitation de la Navigation sur le fleuve Sénégal, the project represents an investment of more than $800 million. By modernizing river channels, constructing ports and deploying cargo vessels, the corridor is expected to reduce Mali’s transport costs by as much as 60 per cent, particularly for bulk exports such as gold, cotton and agricultural products. Lower freight costs and improved reliability could significantly enhance Mali’s trade competitiveness and attract new industrial investment.

The benefits extend well beyond Mali. For Senegal, the project reinforces Saint-Louis’ strategic relevance as a regional logistics hub and generates new port activity, transit revenues and employment opportunities. Increased cargo flows through Senegalese territory are expected to stimulate auxiliary sectors including warehousing, shipping services and infrastructure development. The initiative also strengthens bilateral cooperation and deepens regional integration among OMVS member states.

Beyond economics, the corridor carries symbolic weight. It reflects a shared ambition to turn inland waterways into engines of sovereignty, resilience and growth. If successfully executed, the Senegal River project could redefine trade dynamics in West Africa and offer a powerful model for landlocked economies seeking sustainable access to global markets.

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