Senegal has taken a significant leap in its industrial and military sovereignty strategy with the announcement of an agreement between the Senegalese government and the German group Mercedes-Benz Trucks for the establishment of a military vehicle assembly plant in Dakar.
The groundbreaking news, reported Tuesday evening on RTS, is a cornerstone of the nation’s push for industrial self-sufficiency and enhanced defense capabilities.
The agreement was finalized on Monday at the Prime Minister’s Office during a meeting between Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and a delegation from Daimler Truck AG and its partner Global Trucks Systems (GTS). This marks the operational launch of a major strategic project focused on the local production of trucks and tactical vehicles for the Senegalese Armed Forces.
“A first assembly line will be operational by the end of 2025,” announced Jan Weber, Sales Director of Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks, on RTS. He added that “several hundred jobs will be created in the initial phase, with a target of several thousand over time.”
The memorandum of understanding, signed with the Ministry of the Armed Forces, specifically outlines the assembly of military vehicles on Senegalese soil. Minister General Birame Diop emphasized that this partnership aligns with a clear vision of progressive autonomy in the design, maintenance, and manufacturing of equipment tailored to national needs. “We want to move quickly, but well,” he stated, underscoring the vital technical coordination required to ensure the project’s quality and long-term sustainability. This agreement builds on momentum from November 2024’s Armed Forces Day, themed “Towards the Technological and Industrial Sovereignty of the Armed Forces,” and further affirmed during the 65th independence anniversary celebrations on April 4.
This new Dakar facility complements an existing project in the Mbacke-Touba region of central Senegal, where a 35 billion CFA franc factory is slated to produce up to 1,000 military vehicles annually. Serigne Gueye Diop, Minister of Industry and Trade, noted that this industrial complementarity strengthens the nation’s localized industrialization strategy and fosters the development of a robust defense ecosystem.
Franziska Cusumano, President of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, present in Dakar for the signing, hailed it as a “historic moment” in cooperation between Senegal and Germany. She commended “Senegalese leadership” and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s strategic vision. Michel Noel, Director of GTS, confirmed that a recruitment campaign is already underway, coupled with technical training programs to build an initial cadre of certified local workers.
Beyond its military scope, the project is designed to stimulate broader innovation and industrialization within Senegal. The establishment of a presidential award for innovation in the military sector further reinforces this ambition, aiming to mobilize local expertise towards achieving complete national sovereignty.
This agreement with Mercedes-Benz Trucks strategically positions Senegal as an emerging player in the West African defense industry, reflecting President Faye’s commitment to making industrial innovation a cornerstone of national sovereignty.
AC/Sf/fss/abj/APA