A view of road transport in Africa

摘要

Transport sector is usually divided into four main modes: road, air, maritime and rail modes. In sub-Sahara Africa, road appears as the dominant mode. Railways were developed during the colonial period but almost abandoned since the independence in most countries. Air transport once seen as sign of economic prosperity and instrument of sovereignty is far from being competitive. Maritime transport is mainly on coastal areas, and still controlled by foreign companies. In this context, road transport, favored by the low purchasing power of the population and the geography of the continent, made of landlocked territories, becomes the main mode of transportation. This mode however is facing many challenges including: Poor maintenance, pollution, frequent accidents, lack of local industry, etc. Therefore, critical thinking and innovative ideas from various actors of this sector will be important to bring solutions to most issues.