Russia Strengthens Transport Links With Africa -By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh

At the plenary session under the theme “Development Through Access to Global Markets” organised during the International Transport and Logistics Forum held at St. Petersburg based Roscongress Foundation, both Russian and African speakers have acknowledged, in their presentations, the importance of fostering understanding of transport innovations, shifting investment and possibility of addressing current infrastructure challenges for economic growth.

In promoting comprehensive cooperation in these spheres, Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Zverev, stressed that the African continent is one of the fastest growing regions of the world, demonstrating an average GDP growth rate of 4.5% per year.

According to expert projections, by 2050, Africa’s population will reach 2.5 billion people. To ensure logistical links, it is necessary to build a clear and understandable dialogue with partners, working simultaneously at two levels: at the level of governments – through intergovernmental agreements, and at the level of co-business partnerships. Russian transport corridors guarantee stability of supplies. Today, there are issues of food security, fertilizer supply and formation of new chains, and other emerging geopolitical challenges facing Africa.

As the guest/main speaker, Zverev explained that Russian companies such as FESCO, RZD, GLONASS and Avtodor are actively involved in this process. This is a unique experience sharing technology and infrastructure solutions in significant volumes. “And frankly, that’s an important image distinction of Russia: we’re not just exporting or selling something – we’re offering technologies and cooperation. Together with technologies, we provide training and prepare national personnel who will work on their transport infrastructure in the future,” asserted Zverev.

In his speech, Minister of Transport of the United Republic of Tanzania, Makame Mnyaa Mbarawa, reported on the active modernization of the Dar es Salaam port. Previously, the depth of the water was 9–12 meters, now it has increased to 12–15 meters. An increase in the number of operators operating in the port is planned. Thanks to these measures, cargo turnover increased significantly, and ship handling times decreased from 10 days to 2–3. This is an important achievement, after all, speed is a key factor for investors.

However, the port cannot function in isolation; it needs modern rail infrastructure. Tanzania’s government is leading the construction of a new railway to Kigoma, and then – into Burundi and south, creating a reliable transportation artery. Dar es Salaam will become a gateway to Burundi, Rwanda, Malawi and Zambia which depend on cargo flow through this port. Therefore, the development of the port and associated railway is of strategic importance in the region.

“In parallel, the modernization of the TAZARA railway is going on – a historic artery that requires an upgrade. The private sector is actively involved in this work. After revitalization, this line will become a key link between Dar es Salaam port and Zambia, – he stated. – The Government of Tanzania will make every effort to implement these projects and will work closely with the private sector. We invite Russian companies – both state and private – to participate in logistics projects and port infrastructure modernization.”

As far as road safety in Niger is concerned, the country is facing various challenges that require finding ways to improve the situation, according to Speaker from Niger, Abdurakhaman Amadou. Within the framework of the discussion, he also noted that an important step was to upgrade the car park and road network. As Niger has no access to the sea, the emphasis is on road traffic to ensure the country’s supply.

“We have access to the port of Lome in Togolese Republic which remains neutral towards us. However, Caton port is closed for us which created serious difficulties as 80% of our exports and imports passed through it. Recently, the situation is starting to improve due to the construction of a railway by Nigeria which will provide us with access to her ports,” Abdurakhaman informed.

In addition, diplomatic relations with Algeria are restored after a long hiatus, which opens an exit to the Mediterranean. The conference of Islamic states confirmed the intention to build a grand railway linking Dakar and Djibouti across the entire continent from west to east. This railway will partially pass through Niger, which will be an important step in the development of transportation infrastructure of region.

President Vladimir Putin, in a message to participants, organizers, and attendees of the International Transport and Logistics Forum, says that Russia is ready to share its experience through joint science and technology programmes and, of course, by training specialists able to ensure the development of transport and logistics in the 21st century, using new technological foundation. The Transport and Logistics forum was held, for the first time, on April 1st-3rd, 2026, in St. Petersburg, the second largest city in the Russian Federation.