The postponement of part of the road traffic between Senegal and Mali to the Kedugu-Saraya-Moussala route leads to heavy congestion at the Moussala border crossing. A joint mission of Senegalese and Malian shippers' councils identified truck lines of up to 15 kilometres and insufficient parking capacity.

The historic corridor linking Dakar to Bamako by Kidira, Diboli, Kayes, Diema and Kita is greatly disturbed by the security situation in Mali. Attacks on the Kayes-Bamako axis led transporters to favour the southern branch, via Tambacounda, Kédougou, Saraya and Moussala, before joining Malian territory. This reorientation now concentrates on this route a traffic that previously exceeded its absorption capacity.

A mission conducted on 13 August 2026 by the Senegalese Shippers' Council (Cosec), together with its Malian counterpart, found a line of trucks of about 15 kilometres at the Moussala border post. Carriers must deal with the lack of suitable parking areas, problems of hygiene and road safety, and an undisturbed section of about 10 kilometres at the entrance to Moussala.

According to Daouda Singui Sarr, Director of Promotion and Assistance to Cosec Shippers, these conditions result in longer transit times and additional costs for carriers.

The carry-over occurs while investments are under way on the southern side of the corridor. The programme of strengthening the Mako-Kédougou-Saraya-Moussala road, launched in November 2023, covers 136.4 kilometres worth CFAF 51 billion.

In Kidira, Cosec is also preparing a 15-hectare car park for large carriers, including catering and accommodation spaces for drivers. The authorities in Tambacounda and Kédougou were seized in order to take urgent action, while a diagnostic report must be drawn up to propose solutions to the congestion of the corridor.