By Railways Africa Magazine
The ambitious project to connect Lake Victoria with the Mediterranean Sea has been dubbed a “dream project.” With the slogan “One Continent, One River, One People,” this transformative initiative seeks to unite Africa’s Nile Basin countries through an integrated multimodal transport system. Recognised under the PIDA PAP 2 framework and championed as a Presidential Infrastructure Championing Initiative (PICI) project, the undertaking operates under the strategic coordination of COMESA and has firm backing within the African Union.
The Intermodal transport integration will include sections along the Trans-Africa Highway (Cape Town– Cairo, Lagos-Mombasa, Dakar-Ndjamena-Djibouti and Cairo-Dakar), various railway lines, as well as the big harbours in Alexandria, Suez Canal, Mombasa and Dar es Salaam
The project aims to foster socio-economic integration and cohesion among Nile Basin nations, of which there are 10 countries. 5 of which are landlocked, to enhance trade and tourism, and reduce poverty across the region. With its inception dating back to 2014, the project’s phased approach seeks to achieve sustainable development goals by creating a seamless transport network integrating navigation, railways, and road systems.
The journey began with a pre-feasibility study (2014-2015), fully funded by Egypt under the PICI framework. This phase identified five potential alternatives, ranging from a complete navigation line between Lake Victoria and the Mediterranean to multimodal options involving rail and road infrastructure.
Between 2015 and 2019, the African Development Bank provided $650,000 to fund Phase 1 of the feasibility study. This stage resulted in key deliverables, including the institutional and legal framework and capacity-building initiatives for the involved countries. However, funding gaps have delayed subsequent phases.
The second phase of the project requires $11.7 million to complete the next feasibility phase. Of this amount, $2 million has already been committed by the African Development Bank. This phase includes an environmental and social impact assessment for one of the alternatives identified during the feasibility study, followed by the design and implementation phase.
The pre-feasibility study concluded with five alternatives, ranging from a complete navigation line between Lake Victoria and the Mediterranean Sea to multimodal transport solutions integrating rail and road networks. A key focus of the pre-feasibility phase was to promote the project among Nile Basin countries, which involved engagement and visits across the region.
A Project Management Unit (PMU) will transition into a regional Operational Management Unit (OMU) upon the ratification of the $2 million agreement. The African Development Bank and the National Technical Committee, which includes key stakeholders from the river transport sector, will oversee this transformation.
Key deliverables from the completed phase include the establishment of the institutional and legal framework, as well as a comprehensive training needs assessment, all of which were approved by member states. The preparation of the terms of reference for Phase 2, capacity-building initiatives for footprint countries, and the facilitation of steering committee meetings were also successfully completed. Notably, over 80% of the assigned resources for this phase were effectively utilised.
Two regional capacity-building programmes were conducted, focusing on the challenges and opportunities of inland water transport, with active participation from member countries. These initiatives have further strengthened the foundation for advancing the project.
The project brings together the primary Nile Basin countries—Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan, and Uganda—alongside nations contributing through tributaries, such as Burundi, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Ethiopia. A steering committee comprising officials from each country’s transport and water ministries oversees the initiative, while COMESA ensures coordination.
The SESA – strategic environmental social assessment, transport economic studies, and technical feasibility assessments will help identify the optimal transport solution among the proposed alternatives. However, limited funding means the team must take a phased approach to avoid data obsolescence while seeking to mobilise additional resources.
With $2 million currently available, the next phase aims to lay the groundwork for a regional operational unit, allowing the project to proceed incrementally. The total duration of this phase is estimated at 18 months, with subsequent phases requiring additional funding to sustain momentum.
The Lake Victoria to Mediterranean Sea project is not just about transport but also about connecting people and fostering development. By addressing poverty, enhancing trade, and building regional capacity, the initiative serves as a symbol of African unity and cooperation. However, its realisation depends on sustained financial support and collaborative effort among stakeholders.
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