A major infrastructure project linking Egypt, Libya, and Chad via a 1,720-kilometre trans-African highway has officially entered the implementation phase, according to a recent report published by the Italian newspaper Nigrizia. The project, described as a strategic route, aims to boost trade and strengthen economic and social ties among the three North African nations.
The highway will provide a direct land connection between the Red Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, facilitating the movement of goods and services across the region. Officials believe the new corridor will not only encourage economic integration but also enhance political cooperation and regional stability.
The Egyptian construction giant Arab Contractors (El Mokawloon El Arab) signed an agreement with the Libyan Reconstruction and Development Fund to develop part of the road. The Egyptian Ministry of Transport confirmed in February that construction had already commenced on the Egyptian section of the route, which extends from East Oweinat to the Al-Kufra border crossing in Libya.
Meanwhile, Chad’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Aziz Mohamed Saleh, met this week with Arab Contractors’ Chairman Ahmed El Assar to finalise an agreement for preliminary studies on the Chadian segment of the highway. Chad’s section is set to be the longest stretch, covering 930 kilometres.
The Libyan portion of the highway will span 390 kilometres, while Egypt’s contribution will amount to 400 kilometres. Once completed, the project will significantly shorten the time and cost of transporting goods between the eastern and western regions of Africa.
Regional analysts describe the initiative as one of the most ambitious transnational infrastructure projects currently underway in North Africa, with the potential to reshape trade routes and open up new economic opportunities.
