Côte d’Ivoire Ratifies the Treaty for the Creation of the Praia–Dakar–Abidjan Highway Corridor

Côte d’Ivoire has taken a major step forward in strengthening West African regional integration. On 12 November, during the Council of Ministers, authorities adopted a decree ratifying the treaty establishing the Praia–Dakar–Abidjan transport corridor, an ambitious 3,164-kilometer cross-border infrastructure project that includes a 600-kilometer maritime link between Cape Verde and the mainland.

This treaty—already approved by Parliament on 25 June—demonstrates the country’s commitment alongside its West African partners, including Cape Verde, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Ghana, to the development of this strategic corridor linking Praia to Abidjan. According to government spokesperson Amadou Coulibaly, the primary aim of the project is to “facilitate the mobility of people and goods” along an axis that accounts for more than half of the region’s commercial exchanges.

The highway corridor will connect the main economic and port hubs of West Africa, stretching from Praia, the island capital of Cape Verde, all the way to Abidjan, a major logistical hub of the Gulf of Guinea. Once completed, it will stand as one of the continent’s longest integrated transport infrastructures, enhancing interconnection between eight countries and nearly 400 million consumers.

Initiated under the leadership of ECOWAS, this project aligns with the organization’s Vision 2050, which focuses on connectivity and competitiveness to foster inclusive growth and boost intra-African trade. It also complements other key strategic undertakings, such as the Abidjan–Lagos corridor and the Trans-African railway.

Beyond its economic stakes, the Praia–Dakar–Abidjan project carries strong social and environmental ambitions. It aims to stimulate development in the areas it crosses, reduce logistics costs, and ensure the ecological sustainability of the infrastructure. The treaty emphasizes the construction of environmentally friendly roads, the development of modern logistics platforms, and the promotion of green trade.

For the signatory states, this corridor represents not only a lever for physical and economic integration but also a tool for regional stabilization through development. Enhanced connectivity is expected to attract private investment, encourage intra-African tourism, and boost the competitiveness of both coastal and landlocked economies.

With this ratification, Côte d’Ivoire reaffirms its leadership in implementing major community projects. By committing to this transnational initiative, Abidjan confirms its determination to help build a more connected, competitive, and prosperous Africa.