Sudan … The portal of continental links and the hope of forgotten Africa ✍️ The Mahmoud division of the Human Rights team
In the midst of frantic competition for continental liaison projects in Africa, attention is focused on Morocco, Egypt and Ethiopia, while Sudan – despite its unique geopolitical location – remains far from the Circle of Lights, in a remarkable paradox which does not reflect its true size in the regional liaison equation.
Despite the complexities of the Sudanese interior scene, what cannot be denied is that Sudan has strategic keys that could make it the most important link of the African rail transport project, if there is a sovereign political vision and has studied international support.
* A site that speaks the language of geography *
Whoever looks at the continent’s map realizes that Sudan is located in the heart of East Africa, next to its north and west, and opens onto the Côte de la Mer Rouge to the east, which makes it a wild and rare sea port on the continent. This allows him to play nested roles, not only in the transport of goods, but to facilitate the movement of peoples, in particular the pilgrims and pilgrims from West Africa to the Holy Land in Saudi Arabia.
* This site extends to make Sudan an ideal link between: *
Port of Port Sudan and Ports in Asia,
Chad, Niger and Mali in the West,
South Sudan, Uganda and Congo in the South, Egypt and Libya to the north.
It is a network that does not need to be invented, but to activate.
* Railways … a heritage that must be relaunched *
Sudan has one of the oldest African railways, its foundation dates back to the beginnings of the 20th century, when it played a central role in the connection of cities, villages and ports. Although this network has been subjected to a significant deterioration due to chronic negligence, it always provides a rehabilitation infrastructure base and extensible at a construction cost relatively lower than that of scratches.
The technical estimates indicate that the rehabilitation of lines such as Port Sudan – Khartoum – Nyala – Adri (Chad), then linked them to lines which extend to the west towards Niger and Mali, can put Sudan at the top of the continental fixing project and provide Africa with a new logistic depth to the Red Sea.
* Finance .. Who is looking for Africa?
Contrary to what we think, the financing of a project of this size is not necessarily hostage to the treasures of the interior.
The Chinese bodies, according to diplomatic sources, have shown early attention to studying a project aimed at connecting Sudan in Port to the Sahel and the countries of the Sahara, as part of the “Belt and Road” initiative.
The Gulf’s parts showed – earlier – an interest in Sudanese ports and sea corridors, which could open the door to intelligent and multilateral funding alliances.
* Hajj and Omra .. a logistical and human perspective *
One of the intelligent corners that improves the feasibility of the project is the angle of transport of pilgrims from West African countries. Millions are cut each year thousands of kilometers or land expensive and exhausting trips to Saudi Arabia.
The creation of a railway connecting Niamey (Niger) to Khartoum, and from there to Port Sudan, so that the sea at the Jeddah is a promising option to facilitate the ritual at a lower cost and a better organization.
* Opportunity in gold: Have you seized?
The challenges cannot be ignored, from the fragility of security to the complexity of the political scene. But in the world of geopolitical economy, opportunities do not expect complete stability, but rather invested in its engineering.
With the return of the regional and international conversation on continental integration, it can be the right time to launch the project “Continental Social Con, as an international initiative which goes beyond alignments, by betting on geography and common interest.
Will Sudan be redefined, not only as a transit state, but as a regional transport center?
Or is it again left on the sidelines of the continent’s projects?
The decision is in the hands of those who read the card, not those who are satisfied to look at it.
* Oh my God, we ask you for success and success
