The Development of Railways on the African Continent: A Factor of International Cooperation or Competition?

Abstract

The progressive development of African societies directly depends on the formation of modern mechanisms for the progressive modernization of all spheres of public life on the African continent. Thus, the primary role on the path to modernization and development of Africa is given to infrastructure projects implemented by joint efforts of African states and international companies. The creation of transport corridors connecting several African countries is a priority for infrastructure projects. Such corridors are a kind of multimodal solution for solving several strategic tasks: the possibility of rapid delivery of goods (delivered by sea) deep into African countries, the creation of an extensive network of assembly and sales services, attracting investment, the possibility of introducing African companies to the technological experience of foreign firms, accelerating integration processes in Africa. The creation of new infrastructure projects will help train and employ young specialists, which is a priority task for the leaders of all African states, since it is unemployment among young cohorts (extremely high in many African countries, as demonstrated by the events of the Arab Spring) that contributes to the rapid growth of the outflow of young Africans to the West in search of work, as well as the activation of terrorist groups. China’s influence on the African continent is increasing every year, which is explained by the Chinese strategy of the Maritime Silk Road from Asia to Europe. China is also interested in access to the resources of African countries.