Senegal to construct railroad and commission two ships linking north and south Confirms High Commission Official

By Sailu Bah The First Secretary of the Senegalese High Commission in The Gambia has confirmed reports that Senegal plans to build a railroad linking the capital, Dakar, in the north, to Ziguinchorr, in the southern part of the country.In an interview at her office yesterday, 5 March 2015, Madame Dieynaba Toure said President Macky Sall announced this railroad project as part of the government’s plans to facilitate and increase trade between the north and south for the development and growth of Senegal. It was reported that the Senegalese President has pledged 500 Million US Dollars to build a railway from the north through the mining region of Tambacounda in the east, to Ziguinchorr, while on a visit to Casamance in the southern part of Senegal. Reports has it that the  Senegalese President underscored the importance of this railway project which he described  as a means to link the northern, southern, western and eastern regions, while also helping trade with the sub-region as well as the exploitation of the mineral assets. The First Secretary said this visit of President Sall is part of a tour to the 14 regions of the country to enable him to discuss with the people to know their concerns and further unveil and inaugurate projects. She said this is the president’s fifth visit to the region since assuming the presidency in 2012. Madam Toure, added “President Sall has also commissioned 2 ships that will be plying Dakar and Ziguinchorr and has pledged to help farmers with access to good roads and markets for their produce.” This development followed the laying of the foundation stone for the construction of a bridge at the trans-Gambia crossing by the Gambian Vice President, Isatou Njie Saidy, and the Senegalese Prime Minister, Muhamed Boune Abdallahi Dione, who was invited to grace the Gambia’s 50 Years of nationhood.]]>