Panafrican News Agency

Senegalese transporters express annoyance after ECOWAS sanctions against Mali

Bamako, Mali (PANA) - Actors of the transport sector and of the Senegalese economy expressed on Wednesday in Dakar, their anger and frustration at sanctions by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) against Mali, the Malian Press Agency (AMAP) reported on its website Saturday.

"We would like to deplore the situation, identify the contours, gauge the depth of the difficulties and go to the development with other actors, a memorandum that we will submit to the authorities," said Souhaïbou Guèye, secretary general of the Economic Grouping of Senegal (GES), an employers' organization at a press conference.

Seriously affected by the ECOWAS sanctions, the Senegalese economic operators underlined the consequences of these on economic activities, given the importance of activities on the Dakar-Bamako corridor.

More than half of Senegal's exports to West Africa are destined for Mali. "This means that by depriving itself of traffic on the Dakar-Bamako corridor, Senegal loses 600 billion CFA francs," Mr. Guèye said.

His colleague, Mbaye Mbengue, president of the Collectif des entreprises agréées pour le transport et la livraison des conteneurs (CEATLCS), recalled that Mali is Senegal's first economic partner with 250 billion CFA francs, adding that "out of the 20 million tonnes unloaded at the port of Dakar, 4 million go to Mali".

Thus, Mr. MBengue added, 6,000 containers were unloaded monthly in Mali.

"We have three cement factories in Senegal that send 1.7 million tonnes per year," said the speaker, painting a picture of the loss of earnings of his fellow economic operators.

Mr. Sourang added: "With 1,348 trucks that ensure traffic between the two countries, more than 3,000 people are affected."

"President Macky Sall, who is due to take over the presidency of the African Union, must go to Mali to discuss with the authorities of that country to find a solution," the speakers said.

"I appeal to the intelligence of our authorities because this political decision should not hinder the work. Already, we are on the ground," pleaded Mr. Sourang.

"Losing, today the Malian freight which represents 4 million tons per year, will have an immeasurable impact. It is an economic disaster that is taking place," Sourang said.

"He (Macky Sall) must find the solution with his peers and the means to discuss... We want a committee ratified by the two states (Mali and Senegal) so that we can, along the corridor, take care of the problems of all operators," suggested Mr Sourang.

Senegalese economic operators say that the impact of the embargo and ECOWAS sanctions "is beginning to weigh on some of the Senegalese people, who feel that their leaders must quickly find a solution to avoid suffocating the country's economy".

-0- PANA GT/JSG/SOC/BBA/RA 5Feb2022