Railways return to Africa's forefront: A new race to map trade

Written by: Mohammed Omran

Railways in Africa are no longer just a means of transporting passengers and goods, but have become one of the continent’s most important bets for achieving economic integration and promoting internal trade, in light of the increasing number of countries’ move to revive and develop railway transport networks that have declined over the past decades due to weak investment and maintenance.

This return comes at a time when African countries are seeking to improve their competitiveness in global markets, especially with the launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area, which includes 55 member states of the African Union and represents a market with a population exceeding 1.4 billion.

International experts and development institutions believe that the success of African trade integration is largely linked to the continent’s ability to develop modern transport networks that connect ports to inland areas and reduce the cost of moving goods between countries.

Africa’s railway network is estimated at approximately 90,000 kilometers, but a large part of it is concentrated in a limited number of countries, while large areas of the continent still suffer from weak rail connectivity, which represents one of the most prominent challenges to the growth of regional trade.

Why are trains returning to the forefront of the African scene?

The African continent faces a major challenge in terms of the high cost of transporting goods compared to other parts of the world, due to weak infrastructure and the absence of integrated transport networks linking countries together.

Railways are characterized by their ability to transport huge quantities of goods over long distances, especially minerals, raw materials and agricultural products, which makes them an essential element in economic development plans.

Railways have also become directly linked to manufacturing plans, as countries seek to create economic corridors that combine transport, ports, industrial zones and production centers.

Lobito Corridor: A railway line reconnecting the heart of Africa to the Atlantic Ocean

The Lobito Corridor is one of the most prominent transport projects reflecting the renewed interest in railways in Africa, as it connects the port of Lobito in Angola with mining areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.

The project is based on the historic Benguela railway line, which extends within Angola for a distance of approximately 1,300 kilometers, and aims to reactivate and develop it into an economic corridor serving the movement of minerals and goods between Central Africa and global markets.

The importance of the corridor lies in the fact that it connects areas rich in natural resources, especially copper and cobalt, to the Atlantic Ocean, giving the countries of the region a new trade route that reduces dependence on distant ports.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the world’s largest producers of cobalt, accounting for a large proportion of global production of this metal used in the manufacture of batteries and modern technology, while Zambia is one of the continent’s leading producers of copper.

The Lobito Corridor is not viewed as just a railway line, but as an integrated economic project encompassing transportation, energy, agriculture, and logistics.

Strategic minerals ignite infrastructure race

African mineral wealth has become one of the main drivers for the development of new railway projects, especially with the rising global demand for minerals linked to clean energy.

Africa has huge reserves of copper, cobalt and lithium, minerals used in the electric vehicle, battery and renewable energy technology industries.

However, weak transport networks have remained an obstacle to fully utilizing these resources, which has led governments and international partners to focus on creating corridors linking mining areas to ports.

Railways have become part of the global economic competition for the continent’s resources, as countries and international institutions seek to participate in the development of African infrastructure.

East Africa: Trains seek a route to the sea

In East Africa, railway projects are linked to the need to connect landlocked countries to major seaports.

Countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan rely on the ports of neighboring countries to access global markets, so regional transport projects have become an economic priority.

The countries of the region are seeking to develop the corridors that link the port of Mombasa in Kenya and the port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania with the interior regions, with the aim of facilitating trade and reducing the cost of transporting goods.

Mombasa Port – Kenya: A train connects the coast to the interior

The port of Mombasa is one of the most important trading hubs in East Africa, serving Kenya and a number of neighboring countries.

As part of the development of the transport network, Kenya inaugurated the standard railway line between Mombasa and the capital Nairobi, with a length of approximately 472 kilometers, making it one of the largest modern transport projects in East Africa.

The line aims to improve the movement of goods and reduce pressure on roads, as well as enhance Kenya’s role as a logistics hub serving the region.

Dar es Salaam port: Tanzania's gateway to the heart of the continent

Tanzania is seeking to enhance the status of the port of Dar es Salaam as one of the most important commercial ports in East Africa, through the development of the railway network associated with it.

The country is working on implementing the Standard Rail Transit (SGR) project to modernize the aging network, as part of a plan aimed at improving connectivity between the coast, the interior, and neighboring countries.

The project is of particular importance to countries such as Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which rely on Tanzanian corridors for foreign trade.

South Africa: The continent's largest network seeks modernization

South Africa has one of the largest railway networks in Africa, with lengths exceeding 20,000 kilometers.

The network plays a key role in transporting coal and mining ores from production areas to ports, especially since the mining sector is one of the pillars of the South African economy.

However, the network faces challenges related to the need to upgrade infrastructure and improve operational efficiency, in light of global competition and increasing demand for transporting mineral resources.

Morocco: The high-speed train experiment in North Africa

Morocco represents a different model in railway development, having become the first African country to have a high-speed train.

The “Al-Buraq” line, which connects Tangier and Casablanca, is about 323 kilometers long and is considered one of the most prominent modern transport projects on the continent.

Morocco aims, through the development of its railway network, to improve connectivity between cities, support the economy and tourism, and enhance its position as a logistics hub between Africa and Europe.

China and international powers: competing for Africa's trains

African railway projects have become an arena for international economic competition, given the continent’s growing importance as a source of natural resources and a huge consumer market.

Over the past years, China has played a prominent role in financing and implementing infrastructure projects in a number of African countries, particularly in the transport sector.

In contrast, international financial institutions and other partners have been involved in supporting new projects aimed at developing trade corridors and connecting African markets.

Challenges facing the dream of a unified African railway network

Despite the ambitious goals, railway projects in Africa face numerous challenges, most notably the high cost of construction, the need for long-term financing, and the poor connectivity between some existing networks.

The success of these projects does not depend solely on building new lines, but requires the development of the entire transport system, including ports, roads, customs and logistics services.

The future: Will Africa become a continent connected by trains?

With the growth of African trade and the increasing importance of the continent in the global economy, railways have become one of the most important tools for development in the coming period.

But the transition to an integrated continental transport network requires greater cooperation between countries, continuous investments, and linking individual projects within a unified vision that serves trade and investment.

Trains in Africa are no longer just a means of transporting goods, but have become part of a broader project to redraw the map of the continental economy and link its resources to world markets.