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Charting a New Course:
ECOWAS’ Praia-Dakar Maritime Link and Regional Growth

Amid growing momentum for regional connectivity in West Africa, ECOWAS is steering the Praia-Dakar maritime link project toward becoming a reality by the end of 2026. A pivotal workshop held in Dakar on 30 June 2025 brought together transport experts, national authorities, financiers, and ECOWAS officials to shape the path forward for this ambitious initiative.

The workshop’s agenda was comprehensive: defining governance and operational frameworks, assessing financial viability, and pinpointing mixed financing mechanisms such as public private partnerships and regional funding. Social, environmental, and economic impact assessments are under review, alongside mitigation strategies and long-term sustainability performance indicators.

ECOWAS leadership underscored the strategic value of the link. Chris Appiah, Transport Director of the ECOWAS Commission, emphasized that this maritime connection would integrate Cabo Verde—an island nation—into the broader West African network. In turn, Senegal’s road infrastructure head, Mamoudou Alassane Camara, urged member states to unite behind ECOWAS’s vision, stating: “What unites us is more important than what divides us”.

For its part, Senegal’s Maritime Affairs Agency, led by Becaye Diop, reaffirmed a political pledge made during President Faye’s May 2024 visit to Praia, where a bilateral commitment was forged with Cape Verdean authorities to establish the maritime link. The project is integral to the Praia-Dakar-Abidjan multimodal corridor, a transformative infrastructure corridor meant to span sea, road, and rail connecting eight ECOWAS member states.

Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Senegal, and Sierra Leone are all positioned to benefit from a unified transport network that underpins the broader economic development agenda of ECOWAS.

Beyond immediate logistical benefits, this project signifies a broader strategic shift: ECOWAS is actively pursuing infrastructure that can anchor a regional economic hub. The Praia-Dakar link, together with rail and road extensions toward Abidjan, aims not only to boost trade but also to reaffirm the ambition of turning West Africa into a self-reliant, interconnected region. With the right institutional and operational frameworks in place, the Praia-Dakar maritime connection holds the potential to transform regional trade dynamics—and with it, the future economic trajectory of West Africa.

A BESC (Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons) is mandatory for all shipments to Senegal.

The R&C Desk simplifies the process and provides efficient assistance to comply with the latest requirements.
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