New city planned for Senegal

It has been reported that Diamniadio, a new city which is being built approximately 30km from the Senegal capital of Dakar, could be completed by 2035.

The new city is being built in a bid to ease the mounting overcrowding and traffic congestion in Dakar, where it is estimated that over three million people live.

As Dakar is surrounded on three sides by the Atlantic Ocean, congestion on its roads are particularly bad.

The project, which first secured approval in 2013, will cost approximately US$2 billion. The new city will have affordable housing, an industrial park, a university and entertainment facilities.

There have been concerns about the cost of the project – although Senegal’s economy is growing at around 6% a year, its public debt stands at around 61% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).