Used as a primary mode of transport during the colonial period, railroads are currently in a state of lethargy in Africa. In fact, its revival is an "obligation" for the continent's economic development, and above all it is the most efficient way of enabling the continent to achieve its sustainable development objectives in the face of global warming. It is against this backdrop that the 1st forum on rail financing in sub-Saharan Africa is being held in Dakar. The aim of this event is to find solutions to the problems of financing rail projects on the continent.

Scheduled from October 19 to 21 at the Centre International de Conférence Abdou Diouf (CICAD) in Diamniadio, Dakar, the international forum on rail project financing is co-organized by Chemins de Fer du Sénégal (CFS) and the Union Internationale des Chemins de Fer (UIC).

The event brings together all the key players in the African rail industry, with over 500 stakeholders in attendance, including political decision-makers (governments), financial backers (World Bank, African Development Bank, Agence Française de Développement), industries, operators, managers and rail experts, who will be looking at solutions to the problems of financing rail projects.

The Senegalese delegation was led by Amadou Mansour Faye, Minister of Infrastructure, Land Transport and Opening-up (MITTD), Pape Aliou NDIAYE, Minister Delegate in charge of Railway Development, and Malick NDOYE, Managing Director of CFS. The Moroccan delegation was headed by Mohamed Rabie Khlie, General Manager of the Office National des Chemins de Fer (ONCF), and Taoufik Boufaied, General Manager of the UIC.

Prime Minister Amadou Bâ, who came to preside over the event on behalf of the President of the Republic, hailed the initiative and reaffirmed the State of Senegal's commitment to rehabilitating and renovating the railroad throughout the country.

As for Malick NDOYE, he invited investors attending the forum to take a closer look at Africa's potential in terms of rail projects and the economic opportunities they offer, and above all to follow the example of Senegal's successful TER model.

Mohamed DIOP, Managing Director of Africa Global Logistics Sénégal (AGL Sénégal) and Regional Director of Africa Global Logistics Afrique Atlantique (AGL Afrique Atlantique: Senegal, Mali, Mauritania and Gambia), one of the largest logistics companies in Africa and a subsidiary of the world's largest shipping line, MSC, spoke in the same vein.

Mr. DIOP highlighted the investments made by AGL in Côte d'Ivoire and Cameroon, amounting to over 500 million euros, which have optimized logistics costs in these countries.

He also calls on donors and other investors to take greater responsibility for Africa, which contributes just 5% of global warming, and in his own words: "Africa's connectivity will be by rail".