Senegal signs financing pact for Phase 3 extension of Dakar's TER to Thiès

On 24 July 2026, Senegal's Minister of Land and Air Transport, Serigne Abdoul Ahad Ndiaye, chaired the signing of a memorandum of understanding to finance Phase 3 of the extension of the Train Express Regional (TER) from Dakar to Thiès. The agreement was witnessed by Mihoub Mezouaghi, director of the French Development Agency (AFD) in Senegal, an EU representative named Nathalie, and France's ambassador to Senegal, Christine Fages.

The financing is intended to support the continued development of a modern, sustainable and inclusive rail network, aligned with President Bassirou Diakhar Faye's Vision 2050 and the country's agenda for improved mobility. A specially painted TER carriage celebrating the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games was also presented, underscoring the project's link to the upcoming sporting event. Earlier steps included a March 2026 allocation of 6.5 billion FCFA (about €10 million) for preparatory studies, largely funded by the European Commission and the AFD, and a December 2025 presidential directive to create a National Railway Council to coordinate sector projects.