Algeria Advances Trans-Saharan Road Project with Technical Mission to Chad
Image: AL24 News
Takeaway
The Trans-Saharan Highway presents a significant opportunity for construction firms, logistics providers, and telecommunications companies. Investors should monitor the progress of the remaining sections in Chad and Niger, as their completion will unlock new trade routes and reduce transportation costs, enhancing the competitiveness of businesses operating in the region.
An Algerian technical team recently concluded its third mission to Chad to finalize technical and logistical preparations for the Trans-Saharan Road project, following instructions from President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. The team, comprised of executives from the National Company of Public Works (SNTP), focused on advancing this strategic project with an African dimension. The mission underscores Algeria's commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation with Chad in public works and infrastructure.
The Trans-Saharan Highway, also known as the African Unity Road, is a transnational infrastructure project conceived in 1962 to foster trade and regional integration among six African nations: Algeria, Chad, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, and Tunisia. Construction of sections within the Sahara began in the 1970s. The highway stretches approximately 4,500 km (2,799 mi) from Algiers on the Mediterranean coast to Lagos, Nigeria, on the Atlantic coast. The project includes not only road paving and widening but also thousands of kilometers of cable for the "Trans-Saharan Fibre Optic Backbone," aimed at boosting high-speed telecommunications across the region.
The Algerian section of the Trans-Saharan Highway spans 2,400 km and is fully completed. The entire highway is approximately 9,400 km long. The project aims to connect Mediterranean countries with the Sahel and West Africa, modernizing the RN01 National Road between Ghardaia and Tamenrasset in Algeria. This segment is a critical link traversing challenging Saharan terrain. The highway is designed to improve safety and efficiency of desert transportation, reduce travel times and vehicle operating costs, and support economic development in the Saharan regions of Algeria.
The completion of the Trans-Saharan Highway is expected to benefit landlocked countries in the Sahel by providing a land-based alternative to costly maritime and air routes. It will facilitate the movement of goods, raw materials, and agricultural products, reducing logistics costs and stimulating trade. The highway is also considered a cornerstone of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), providing essential infrastructure for the continent's political integration aspirations. The project will serve over 400 million people across 6 million square kilometers, unlocking potential for intra-African trade.
Looking ahead, the Trans-Saharan Highway is poised to transform into a strategic economic corridor for joint development, ending the isolation of Sahel-Saharan countries like Chad. The project's completion will pave the way for more economic integration and free trade agreements in Africa. The management of the economic aspects of the Trans-Saharan Road corridor is a decisive step in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.