Southern Territorial Pole faces underutilized economic potential

A recent monographic study presented in Ziguinchor has revealed that Senegal’s Southern Territorial Pole possesses significant economic potential that remains largely underutilized. Despite its vast resources in agriculture, forestry, and tourism, the region struggles to convert these assets into jobs, income, and added value.

The report, released under the Competitiveness and Employment Acceleration Program (Pace), highlights that the regional economy is heavily dependent on the primary sector. In 2023, the pole accounted for 41% of national agricultural production, with significant cereal cultivation in Kolda and Sédhiou. Additionally, the Ziguinchor region alone holds over 100,000 hectares of forest heritage.

However, the study notes that insufficient processing, isolation, poverty, and high unemployment persist. Moussa Sall, a consultant for the Pace task force at the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Planning, noted that the region suffers from a fragmented economy split between formal and informal sectors, with youth unemployment estimated between 35% and 40%. Sall suggested a shift in logic from state-centered investment toward fostering a territorial pole economy that allows more room for the private sector.