The goal of the G5 Sahel is to establish a cross-border railway line. Trans-Sahel is an ambitious railway project that should eventually connect Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad.

From February 15th to 16th, the G5 Sahel summit was held in N’Djamena, the capital of Chad. At the meeting, the heads of state jointly expressed their satisfaction with the completion of the feasibility study of the Trans-Sahelian Railway project with their own funds, and "invited the Council of Ministers and the Executive Secretariat to take measures, especially by seeking strategic partnerships to ensure the project is obtained. Follow-up progress".

The feasibility study of the Trans-Sahelian Railway Project in Africa began in early 2020 and lasted about 10 months. Among other things, it included determining the structure of the existing railway connection line, possible routes, and a summary estimate of the required investment costs and costs.

Confirmed in 2015

The Trans-Sahelian railway project was first confirmed at the first summit of the Group of Five Sahel in 2015, and is regarded as an important means to promote economic exchanges and effectively respond to the rapid deterioration of regional security.

According to Micarlo Sidibe, an infrastructure expert for the Sahel Group of Five, considering the existing railway sections in some countries, the existing design route length is 5,000 kilometers. At present, the project has been included in the "Priority Investment Plan of the Group of Five Sahel". The first phase of the plan covers the 2019-2021 period and includes 40 important projects with rapid impact.

The heads of state believe that the implementation of the project will help improve the convenience of external transportation for landlocked countries, thereby strengthening regional integration and creating opportunities in various fields. In addition, the railway crossing area contains a large amount of undeveloped mining and agricultural resources. The project will pave the way for the development of these resources.Editor/Huang Lijun