The Algerian Minister of Public Works and Basic Infrastructure, Lakhdar Rekhroukh, has said that the trans-Saharan road, which will connect five countries that trade across the Sahara, is 90% complete. The countries make up the Trans-Saharan Liaison Committee (CLRT)
Speaking at the opening of the work of the 75th session of the CLRT, which took place in Algiers, the Algerian capital,, in the presence of the secretaries general of several ministerial departments and diplomatic representatives of the member countries of CLRT (Tunisia, Mali, Niger, Chad and Nigeria), the Minister affirmed that the Algerian State attaches great importance to the project.
Referring to the state of progress of the project, he said that the 90% completed section covered 9000 km out of a total length of over 9,900 km, pointing out that delays have been recorded in neighbouring Mali, “and it is precisely this component which is on the agenda for this session”.
Concerning the section that is covered within Algeria, which is 3,400 km, and which is practically completed, the Minister specified that this project is linked to others in progress, such as that of the completion of the road linking Tindouf in Algeria and Zouerate in Mauritania. A major infrastructure, extending over a length of 773 km which will allow the promotion of economic exchanges between the two countries, but also between Libya, Tunisia and Algeria on the one hand and the countries of the Sahel, on the other hand.
Rekhroukh said “This is an approach that is considered a very important outlet to West Africa.” He also indicated that work to complete the project will begin upon completion of the technical studies, which are in progress.
The minister also announced an extension of the trans-Saharan road project to the wilaya of Tamanrasset in Algeria. Speaking on the extent of the project, and its extension to Tamanrasset, he said “after reaching Guezzam, over a distance of 700 km in the early 2000s, we have moved on to a bigger stage over the years, and as the sections were received, we were able to transform this North-South motorway axis, over a length of approximately 850 km, passing through the wilayas of Blida, Médéa, Djelfa, Laghouat, Ghardaïa and El Ménéa, titanic projects in view of the rugged cartography of these regions, it is therefore very possible to reach the wilaya of Tamanrasset in the future”.
In addition, the minister highlighted the interest of concretising the trans-Saharan road project, in particular through the creation of an economic corridor between the member countries of this project. A vector, he said, of regional integration. and intra-African business development.
uGYtIwfkhCF