• Senegal has launched a nationwide inspection campaign targeting nearly 6,900 minibuses.
• The vehicles, with an average age of 24 years, play a major role in urban and intercity transport.
• Authorities aim to reduce road accidents and modernize a fleet often cited in crash statistics.

Senegal has begun implementing a plan announced earlier this year to tighten oversight of its aging minibus fleet, a segment of the transport sector frequently linked to road accidents.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Land Transport launched a nationwide operation requiring intercity minibuses with seating capacity ranging from 12 to 19 passengers to undergo mandatory technical inspections. The campaign, which runs from March 3 to May 2, is part of broader efforts to improve road safety.

Vehicles that pass the inspections will benefit from simplified procedures during roadside checks. Those found to be non-compliant may be immobilized or required to undergo immediate repairs before returning to service.

According to the ministry, the segment includes about 6,886 minibuses with an average age of 24 years, highlighting the advanced wear of vehicles that handle a significant share of both urban and intercity passenger traffic.

The inspection campaign follows decisions taken during the February 25 Cabinet meeting, which called for stronger measures to improve urban and intercity mobility. Authorities are paying particular attention to the Dakar metropolitan area, major regional cities, and road corridors known for frequent accidents.

Data from the National Gendarmerie shows that Senegal records around 5,200 road accidents each year. These incidents result in about 745 deaths and roughly 8,500 serious injuries.

Beyond the human toll, the economic cost is substantial. Authorities estimate that road accidents reduce national output by between 4% and 5% of gross domestic product each year, equivalent to about CFA163 billion (around $289 million).

Alongside the technical inspections, the government plans additional measures to improve safety and operating conditions across the sector. These include stricter enforcement against passenger and baggage overloading, mandatory internal luggage compartments, and the requirement to use official bus terminals.

Authorities also plan to intensify roadside inspections, deploy camera-based traffic enforcement, install GPS tracking devices to curb speeding, and gradually renew the country’s aging vehicle fleet.

Henoc Dossa