Senegal’s Minister of Land and Air Transport, Yankhoba Diémé, announced that long-delayed payments to retired railway workers will be disbursed this year. The move aims to resolve a decades-long dispute over pension contributions and provide financial relief to former employees of the national railway system.
According to Diémé, the former railway workers, many of whom contributed to the development of Senegal’s rail infrastructure before the companies faced financial difficulties, have been waiting for over 20 years to receive pension payments owed by the Institution de Prévoyance Retraite du Sénégal (IPRES). The total amount due is nearly 5 billion CFA francs, reduced to approximately 3 billion francs when excluding penalties.
The funds have been allocated in the 2026 national budget, marking a significant step toward resolving the social debt. Diémé stated that the Minister of Finance has already instructed the State Judicial Agent to formally notify IPRES of the decision.
The minister indicated this commitment was initially made during a campaign stop in Thiès. The resolution is expected to settle a liability stretching back over two decades and honor the contributions of former railway workers to Senegal’s rail development. This case highlights the challenges faced by retired workers in securing promised benefits.
Recent reports have detailed the struggles of these former employees, with some facing severe financial hardship and health issues due to the lack of pension funds. In August 2025, an assembly of the former railway workers reported that seven members had died in a single week due to the difficulties caused by the delayed payments, according to Seneplus.com.
The Entente des ex-temporaires de la Régie des Chemins de fer, representing the retired workers, has been advocating for the resolution of this issue for years, citing irregularities in the administration of the railway system that led to the loss of pension records for many employees, as reported by Seneweb.com. The move underscores the government’s commitment to addressing long-standing social grievances.
