Senegal Leads WAEMU in Industrialisation: The Limits of Its Performance

Senegal ranks eighth in Africa and first in WAEMU in the African Development Bank’s Industrialisation Index for 2010–2024, with a score of 0.6368. The daily Les Échos says the ranking reflects factors including macroeconomic stability, institutional quality and infrastructure, but does not necessarily indicate significant growth in manufacturing output. Senegal still faces limited local processing of resources, high electricity costs, difficulties securing long-term industrial finance for small businesses, a large informal sector and a shortage of relevant technical skills. To turn its standing into tangible industrial progress amid the AfCFTA, Les Échos recommends linking local firms more closely to value chains, strengthening special economic zones and using gas projects to help lower energy costs.