Praia-Dakar-Abidjan Multimodal Transport Corridor

<p>In June 2017, the Heads of State and Government of Cape Verde, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and C&ocirc;te d'Ivoire signed a Treaty to establish the Dakar-Abidjan Corridor. This Treaty was supported by the adoption of Supplementary Act A/SA.3/06/17 during the 51st Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Monrovia, Liberia. The Heads of State and Government agreed to develop the Corridor through the following actions:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Establish the Dakar-Abidjan Corridor</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Create the Dakar-Abidjan Corridor Management Authority</strong>, which will have a supra-national status.</li>
<li><strong>Construct and manage a 6-lane dual carriage multinational highway (2x3)</strong>, as further detailed in the International Project Agreement.</li>
<li><strong>Implement complementary trade and transport facilitation measures</strong> linking Dakar to Abidjan, passing through Banjul, Bissau, Conakry, Freetown, and Monrovia. The agreement also allows for extensions, expansions, and additional transportation modes as agreed upon by the Contracting Parties.</li>
</ul>
<p>According to Article 3 of the Corridor Development Treaty, the objectives of the Corridor are:</p>
<p>a. <strong>Facilitate the safe and efficient movement of persons and goods</strong>, enhance regional and international trade, and improve transport by upgrading road infrastructure and simplifying and harmonizing the requirements and controls for moving goods and persons. This aims to reduce transportation costs and transit times.</p>
<p>b. <strong>Stimulate economic and social development</strong> in the territories of the contracting parties and foster partnerships between the public and private sectors.</p>
<p>c. <strong>Transform the Corridor into a Development Corridor</strong>, offering safe, fast, and competitive transport and transit services that support regional trade, stimulate investment, promote sustainable development, reduce poverty, and ensure security along the corridor.</p>
<p>d. <strong>Implement strategies for accelerating economic and social growth</strong> along the corridor while ensuring environmental sustainability.</p>
<p>To achieve these objectives, the ECOWAS Commission, through its Department of Infrastructure, is preparing various components of the broad corridor development program. In addition to the Highway, Articles 6 (2) & (3) of the Treaty mandate the Member States to develop integrated transportation infrastructure, including rail, maritime, and air transport. Provisions are also made for future expansions to include optic fiber networks, gas pipelines, and other utilities as needed.</p>
<p>The ECOWAS Commission is planning a broader intervention known as the PRAIA-DAKAR-ABIDJAN CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME.</p>