Tunisia unveils land trade corridor project linking North Africa to Sahel
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AfricanManager, 7 April 2026
Tunisia unveils land trade corridor project linking North Africa to Sahel
Tunisia is pushing forward a strategic land trade corridor connecting North Africa to the Sahel, aiming to reposition itself as a gateway between the Mediterranean and sub-Saharan Africa.
This major corridor will link North Africa to Sahel countries, specifically connecting the Ras Jedir border crossing with Libya to routes leading to Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad and the Central African Republic.
Developed in coordination with Libya, the project aims to reduce export costs, improve logistics and promote economic integration.
Despite initial progress in trade, Tunisia and Niger recognize the need to expand and structure their commercial partnership to fully exploit the region’s potential.
Announced by Minister of Trade Samir Abid, the project will connect the Ras Jedir border post with Libya to inland routes extending toward Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, and the Central African Republic.
The initiative is coordinated with Libyan authorities to establish a continuous land trade axis to the landlocked Sahel markets.
Speaking at the Tunisia–Niger Business Forum alongside Niger’s Minister of Commerce Abdoulaye Seydou, Abid told Business Insider Africa that the corridor would “reduce the cost and time of export operations, facilitate logistics and transport, and strengthen African economic integration.”
Boosting trade under AfCFTA
The project comes as Tunisia deepens its economic engagement with sub-Saharan Africa under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Abid noted that Tunisia has already completed nearly 400 export operations to African markets under the AfCFTA Trade Facilitation Initiative, covering sectors such as mechanical and electrical components, textiles, and agro-food products.
Despite this progress, trade with Niger remains limited. Officials from both countries acknowledged that bilateral trade volumes are still modest, highlighting untapped potential given Niger’s market demand and Tunisia’s industrial capacity.
Both parties agreed on the need to structure trade flows, diversify exports, promote industrial partnerships, and facilitate investment.
With a population exceeding 150 million, the Sahel region offers significant growth opportunities, particularly as countries like Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso seek alternative trade routes amid shifting regional alliances.
Strategic ambition amid challenges
The Tunisian corridor aligns with broader regional trends, including the rise of the Sahel States Alliance and efforts by Sahelian countries to diversify trade partners.
By providing a shorter land route to the Mediterranean, the corridor could reduce dependence on West African coastal ports and shorten delivery times, which currently span two to three weeks.
However, the project faces challenges. Security issues in southern Libya and parts of the Sahel, along with infrastructure gaps, may require substantial investment, potentially billions of dollars, to upgrade roads, logistics systems, and border facilities.
If successfully implemented, the corridor could lower transportation costs, boost intra-African trade (currently only about 15% of Africa’s total trade) and position Tunisia as a key hub in Africa’s evolving trade network, according to Business Insider Africa.
