Railway revitalization in Africa - destination 2040

Although the African continent has recorded, since 2000, continuous
economic growth levels of about 5% which place it at the heart of global
stakes for the future, social challenges are still daunting with reference
to the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
Considering only transport infrastructures which show a chronic deficit,
the 2013-2014 WEF report on global economic competitiveness
attributed to African countries an average rating barely exceeding 3.28
over 7 showing a clear lag behind compared to the other regions of the
world. Due to the continent's dynamics, its urbanization and
demographic dividend, there are increasing mobility needs and this
situation is therefore likely to deteriorate.
This means that the continent's socio-economic take-off inevitably
depends on the quality of transport infrastructures to be developed.
One of these is the railway which, thanks to its intrinsic assets, could
represent a key development and economic integration vector. Its
revival is required to serve the growing needs of eco-mobility.
In this context, we have designed a new strategy with the objective of
revitalizing the railway in Africa by the horizon of 2040. Thanks to a
participative approach and an effective involvement of railway experts
representing the different regions, a new roadmap has become a reality
today.
It is based on five guiding axes elaborated after a detailed diagnosis
and divided into levers then shares in order to materialize this
strategy in the best conditions.
We therefore invite you to discover this renovated approach as
well as the content of the structuring prospective plan, supported
by an appropriate steering system to empower the various
stakeholders and follow its implementation.
Naturally, whereas substantive work has been done to develop this
new strategic vision, it goes without saying that its operational
incubation requires a strong mobilization and a consequent
involvement of all stakeholders.
We are firmly committed to make this strategic plan a dynamic tool
as decided at the moment of its validation by the AR in Morocco in
late 2012, which has given birth to the "CALL OF TANGER" by
which the railway African community commits to work in order to
make this ambitious project alive.
We rely on our strong common mobilization, our perseverance, our
conviction and our determination to win the bet of the future and
write together a new page for the railway in Africa.
Tomorrow starts today. We must now seize this opportunity!