• Senegal and Mauritania set a December 25, 2026 contractual deadline for the delayed Rosso bridge project.

• The project missed its original mid-2024 delivery date after a planned 30-month construction period.

• Multilateral lenders, led by the African Development Bank, finance the €87.62 million project.

Faced with persistent delays at the Rosso bridge construction site, Senegal’s Minister of Infrastructure, Déthié Fall, and Mauritania’s Minister of Transport, Ali Sayed Ahmed Al-Fayrak, issued an ultimatum to the contractor over the weekend. The ministers set December 25, 2026, as the contractual deadline for project delivery. The political pressure reflects broader concerns about a strategic project whose delays weigh on trade flows and regional integration.

The authorities launched construction in December 2021 with an expected duration of 30 months. The project should have reached completion by mid-2024. According to comments attributed by local media to Déthié Fall, the delays stem from “shared responsibilities.” He cited failures to meet certain commitments on the government side and organizational shortcomings by the contractor.

A Strategic Project Backed by Multiple Partners

Project sponsors valued the bridge at €87.62 million in 2019. Several development partners finance the project. The African Development Bank covers about 46.5% of total costs, alongside the European Investment Bank, the European Union, and the governments of Senegal and Mauritania.

The bridge will span 1,461 linear meters across the Senegal River at Rosso, linking both riverbanks. The African Development Bank said the absence of a permanent crossing at this natural border represents a major obstacle to economic development and regional and continental integration policies.

Delays Extend Logistical Constraints

The border crossing currently relies on a ferry service that operates during limited hours. This system creates queues, uncertainty, and variable delays for travelers and freight operators. Each postponement of commissioning prolongs a situation in which logistics costs remain high, a factor that can undermine cross-border trade competitiveness and reduce the attractiveness of the Dakar–Nouakchott corridor.

Beyond the Rosso bridge, the delays highlight recurring challenges in executing large infrastructure projects in West Africa. These challenges include coordination between governments and contractors, compliance with contractual obligations, logistics management, and schedule control.

This article was initially published in French by Henoc Dossa

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de BERRY QUENUM