Tunisia has unveiled plans for a major overland trade corridor aimed at linking North Africa directly to the Sahel, positioning itself as a key gateway between the Mediterranean and sub-Saharan Africa.
The proposed route will begin at the Ras Jedir border crossing with Libya and extend inland toward Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, and the Central African Republic, according to Business Insider Africa.
The initiative, announced by Tunisia’s Minister of Trade, Samir Abid, is being developed in partnership with Libyan authorities to create a continuous trade route into landlocked Sahelian economies.
Speaking at the Tunisia-Niger Business Forum alongside Niger’s Trade Minister Abdoulaye Saidou, Abid said the corridor would “reduce the cost and time of export operations, ease logistics and transport challenges, and strengthen African economic integration.”
This move aligns with Tunisia’s broader efforts to expand its economic footprint in sub-Saharan Africa under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
According to Abid, Tunisia has already carried out nearly 400 export operations to African markets through the AfCFTA’s Guided Trade Initiative, covering sectors such as mechanical and electrical components, textiles, and agri-food products.
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Despite these developments, trade between Tunisia and Niger remains relatively low. Officials from both countries acknowledged that current trade volumes are modest, highlighting significant untapped potential given Niger’s growing market demand and Tunisia’s industrial capabilities.
Both sides emphasized the importance of organizing trade flows, diversifying exports, encouraging industrial partnerships, and improving investment conditions.
With a population exceeding 150 million, the Sahel region represents a major growth opportunity, especially as countries like Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso look for alternative trade routes amid shifting regional alliances.
By offering a shorter land route to the Mediterranean, the proposed corridor could reduce dependence on West African coastal ports and cut delivery times that currently take up to two to three weeks.
However, the project faces notable challenges, including security concerns in southern Libya and across parts of the Sahel, as well as significant infrastructure gaps.
Addressing these issues may require billions of dollars in investment to upgrade roads, logistics networks, and border facilities.
If completed successfully, the corridor could lower transportation costs, boost intra-African trade, which currently makes up only about 15% of the continent’s total trade, and strengthen Tunisia’s position as a central player in Africa’s evolving trade landscape.
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Image Credit: GREAT AFRICA
