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Cape to Cairo
The powerful idea African countries and cities should be connected with strong transportation networks, particularly road and rail, is one that can sometimes be over-romanticized as a pan-African vision of the independence struggle.
But officials in African governments, multilateral agencies and development financing are usually pretty clear-eyed about the huge economic potential that could be unlocked by getting Africa better connected. Most Africans would instinctively understand that given the arbitrary nature of borders across the continent.
South African academic Cobus van Staden, frames it nicely in a paper on the possibility of an East-West transport link in Africa: “African development hinges on a maddening paradox: its greatest asset—the sheer size and diversity of its landscape—is also the greatest barrier to its development.” He notes the difficulty of moving goods around “weighs down” trade between African countries and as we’ve noted previously it also hampers international trade.
It’s worth remembering there has been a vision in place since 1971, with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, to build a Trans-African Highway, consisting of nine highways traversing the continent for a combined 60,000 kilometers. They include ambitious routes from Dakar to Cairo (8,636 km), Lagos to Mombasa (6,260 km) and yes, from Cape to Cairo (8,860 km).
So why don’t we have them some 60 years after independence? Well, funding for one thing. This is where China comes in, as they now frequently do. The Chinese government, in line with its Belt and Road Initiative, sees the potential and opportunity of a market, or rather, 54 markets, with over one billion, much more easily accessible, people. As van Staden notes, China helped with the one completed highway, Highway No.5, which runs for 4,500 kilometers through seven countries from Dakar, Senegal to N’Djamena, Chad.
Many analysts will rightly be concerned about African governments and rising debt to China, a topic that will be top of mind as Chinese president Xi Jinping visits three African countries this week. These concerns will be weighed against the potential economic return of better infrastructure rather than whether these road networks fulfill a long-held pan-African dream.
— Yinka Adegoke, Quartz Africa editor
Stories from this week
Ethiopia and Eritrea’s reunion will not be free of difficulties. There has been much to celebrate about the end of the two-decade long political and military standoff between Ethiopia and Eritrea including the emotional first commercial flight from Addis Ababa to Asmara. There’s also the prospect of the 100 million-strong Ethiopian economy opening up to Kenya’s M-Pesa mobile money. But, as Abdi Latif Dahir writes, once the honeymoon period is over, there are significant political and economic hurdles that the two countries will have to overcome to crystallize this union.
Barack Obama slams African strongman politics. As part of a wider trip across the continent and the centennial celebration of Mandela’s birth, Barack Obama delivered the Nelson Mandela speech. From Johannesburg, Lynsey Chutel explains how Obama called out a myriad of institutions and individuals. The rich and their debt to the world, his criticism of strongman politics on the continent and finally the thinly veiled shots aimed his predecessor Donald Trump.
Nigeria’s ex-finance minister has joined Twitter’s board. Nigeria’s ex-finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has joined the board of Twitter. The former senior World Bank official joins the Silicon Valley company as large tech businesses try to figure out ways to improve the gender and racial diversity of their ranks.
France’s World Cup team can be both African and French. Comedian Trevor Noah’s joke about the French World Cup winning soccer team being “African” earned a letter from France’s US ambassador reminding Noah that regardless of background the players are indeed “French”. But Siddhartha Mitter argues these debates are tedious and that we should move away from simple dichotomies and enjoy the team as a unique melange of cultures, much in the way the team views itself.
The flying elephants and grounded eagles of Nigeria’s various defunct national airlines. The Nigerian government says it’s planning to a launch, Nigeria Air, in December. But it is not the first time Nigeria has tried to launch and maintain a national airline. Kemi Lijadu takes a look back at the way the branding of the country’s now-defunct airlines evolved over the decades.
Africa’s richest man thinks Donald Trump is onto something with higher tariffs. Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, may not agree with president Donald Trump that higher tariffs are good for the United States, but he says higher tariffs could work for African countries like Nigeria. Trevor Manuel, South Africa’s ex-finance minister, who was on a panel with Dangote, did not agree with this vision of a more protectionist Africa.
Chart of the Week
Madagascar’s speedy internet defies expectations. Madagascar, one of the poorest countries in Africa, has the fastest average internet speeds on the continent. In fact, it places 22nd in the world outpacing much wealthier developed countries like the UK and France.
Other Things We Liked
DR Congo’s decision to allow drilling in its national parks isn’t about oil. The news DR Congo’s government okayed plans to drill for oil in two UNESCO World Heritage site parks, Saronga and Virunga, sparked international outrage. But for African Arguments, Patrick Edmond and Kristof Titeca explain this is about much-needed cash, president Kabila’s future and how major oil companies impact the way this plays out.
Nigerians bury cash in their backyards as the mobile money opportunity fades. Financial inclusion in Nigeria is reversing even as regulators restrict the expansion of mobile money services by blocking network operators from applying for licenses. Bloomberg‘s Yinka Ibukun, Mustapha Muhammad and Emele Onu, look into the attitudes of ordinary Nigerians and banking executives to explain what could be a missed opportunity.
The words and letters of writer Bessie Head. For Popula, Nanjala Nyabola dug through many private letters of apartheid-era author Bessie Head, who was born in South Africa, but spent much of her writing life in Botswana. It includes correspondence with colleagues in the anti-apartheid movement as well as with major literary names like Langston Hughes and Alice Walker.
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Keep an eye on
Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi to visit Rwanda (July 22-24). After stopping over in Senegal Chinese president Xi Jinping will make his way to Rwanda. President Paul Kagame will host him on Sunday and Monday. Indian prime minister Narendra Modi will visit on Monday and Tuesday. Both leaders are visiting Rwanda for the first time on their way to South Africa for the BRICS Summit.
African Union E-commerce conference (Jul. 23-25). The African Union is hosting an E-commerce conference this week in Nairobi. The goal of this summit is to provide a platform to enhance understanding of the current state of e-commerce on the continent.
Ethiopia’s prime minister visits the US (Jul. 28-29). Abiy Ahmed will travel to Washington DC and Los Angeles to meet with Ethiopians living in the diaspora as part of ongoing reforms to open up the country.
*This brief was produced while listening to Malukayi (feat. Konono No.1) by Mbongwana Star (DR Congo).
Our best wishes for a productive and thought-filled week ahead. Please send any news, comments, suggestions, Addis-Asmara flight tickets and Silicon Valley board seat offers to africa@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter at @qzafrica for updates throughout the day. This newsletter was compiled by Kemi Lijadu and edited by Yinka Adegoke.
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