The Africa Integrated Railway Network Project
The African Integrated High Speed Railway Network (AIHSRN) initiative stands as a pivotal project under the auspices of the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Its primary goal is to support the AU’s vision of fostering both physical and economic integration across the continent. Aligning with the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), the AIHSRN embodies the programme’s core principles: vision, magnitude, geographic scope, and timeframe. Furthermore, it serves as a critical facilitator for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
In December from the 12-15th, The African Union Commission (AUC), via its Department of Infrastructure and Energy, in collaboration with AUDA-NEPAD, GIZ, UNECA, and the Ethiopia Railways Corporation, convened a comprehensive workshop aimed at evaluating the progress of the 13 AIHSRN pilot projects in Addis Ababa-Ethiopia.
The workshop’s key goals included establishing a pan-African platform to propel the railway sector forward, sharing best practices and major challenges encountered in railway project execution, and fostering discussions on endorsing the Luxembourg Protocol on Rolling Stock. This protocol is envisaged as a strategy to aid African States in overcoming the principal obstacle of securing the necessary funding for railway ventures. Enhanced by the Ethiopia Railways Corporation’s assistance, the event featured an insightful visit to the Addis Ababa-Djibouti SGR Station, showcasing both passenger and freight facilities, where participants gained first-hand information on the operational aspects of an active SGR project.
Enhanced by the Ethiopia Railways Corporation’s assistance, the event featured an insightful visit to the Addis Ababa-Djibouti SGR Station, showcasing both passenger and freight facilities, where participants gained first-hand information on the operational aspects of an active SGR project.
PER THE ZANZIBAR DECLARATION OF THE FOURTH SPECIALIZED TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT, TRANSCONTINENTAL AND INTERREGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE, AND ENERGY (STC TTIIE) 12 – 15 September 2023 Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania –
The African Union called for the change of name of the AU flagship project, the “African Integrated High-Speed Railway Network ” to ” African Integrated Railway Network”.
Whilst this has not been ratified as yet – Railways Africa Magazine refers to the African Integrated High-Speed Railway Network as “The Africa Integrated Railway Network Project.”
The Africa Integrated Railway Network Project
Tanzania Railways
The Africa Integrated Railway Network Project
Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency
The Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA), a collaborative multilateral agency formed through an agreement among the governments of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. With Malawi joining recently and news that Zambia is set to join within the coming year.
The CCTTFA aims to bolster the integrated multimodal transport and logistics network known as the Central Corridor. This network serves to link these member states with the sea, utilising the port of Dar es Salaam as a pivotal maritime gateway.
The Africa Integrated Railway Network Project
LAPSSET Corridor Development Authority
The Lamu Port, South Sudan, Ethiopia (LAPSSET) Corridor Project, initiated on 2nd March 2012 by the then Heads of State of Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Sudan, represents a significant step towards regional integration and development. Designed as a regional transport-infrastructure and economic corridor, LAPSSET aims to link Lamu Port with the hinterlands of Kenya and the landlocked countries of Ethiopia and South Sudan through advanced transport infrastructure.
Zambia Seeking Funding for Railway Rehabilitation
AU-NEPAD’s Mission: Bridging Policy and Development
Wahabou, spearheading the Infrastructure and Connectivity aspect, emphasised AUDA-NEPAD’s pivotal role in transforming African Union policies into tangible development projects. Their focus spans across vital sectors such as agriculture, environmental sustainability, human capital and notably, infrastructure and industrialisation. AUDA-NEPAD stands as Africa’s beacon for developmental partnership and resource mobilisation, striving to enhance connectivity through various infrastructural elements like roads, railways, and digital technology.
