President Tebboune Orders Algiers-Tamanrasset Railway Completion by 2028
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has issued a directive for the immediate launch of the strategic railway project connecting Laghouat-El Meniaa-In Salah-Tamanrasset, designated a national "absolute priority." The President emphasized the need for the entire Algiers-Tamanrasset line to be completed by the end of 2028, underscoring the significant importance attached to this infrastructure within Algeria's national development strategy for its southern regions. Economists have highlighted the railway's multidimensional strategic impact, extending beyond mere transport to support the national economy and foster new opportunities for Algerian products in Sahel countries.
The railway project is expected to transform the economic geography of Algeria by enhancing the attractiveness of southern wilayas for investors, reducing goods transport costs, and improving supply chains. Experts note that this infrastructure will create fertile ground for new economic, industrial, and logistical activities, thereby ensuring a more robust integration of the southern regions into the national economic fabric. This development is crucial for supporting increased investments in the South's productive sectors, particularly mining, energy, agriculture, and industry, and is set to redefine the economic role of these wilayas as centers for investment, production, and transit to African markets.
Beyond its domestic impact, the Algiers-Tamanrasset railway line is integral to Algeria's broader strategic vision of strengthening its role in African integration and establishing itself as a continental economic gateway. The project will reinforce socio-economic ties with neighboring countries and the Sahel region, facilitating the competitive transport of Algerian products across Africa. Serving as a vital logistics artery, this railway will connect landlocked Sahel countries to Algerian ports, complementing the existing Trans-Saharan Road. This comprehensive network aims to create an integrated logistical corridor, linking Algeria's northern industrial zones with its southern regions and extending to Sahelian markets, positioning Algeria as a significant transit and exchange hub for the region's economies.
