Tunisia's Commitment to the Trans-Saharan Highway Project
Tunisia is actively engaged in the construction of the Trans-Saharan Highway, a major economic corridor connecting the capitals of Tunisia, Algeria, Niger, Mali, Chad, and Nigeria, spanning a total length of 9,768 km, with 8,222 km already completed. The program aims to reduce the cost of transporting people and goods, increase trade between African countries, and develop economic and social interactions between regions. It also seeks to contribute to the integration of entire populations and achieve regional and national economic integration.
Development of National Infrastructure
The 2026 finance bill includes a budget for the doubling of National Road No. 13, which connects the inland cities of Sidi Bouzid (Fatenna and Ouled Haffouz) and Kasserine (Sbeïtla and Foussana) to the A1 highway in the Sfax governorate (Menzel Chaker). To achieve this, the National Road will be cleared for doubling over a distance of 182 km, including a 3 km link with Regional Road No. 82.
Financing and Investment
The financing is secured through loan agreements with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank, covering 80% of the estimated total cost of 1,470 million Tunisian dinars (MTND).
A Project with Promising Prospects
This is indeed the type of project that deserves support, bringing hope for the development of Tunisia's interior regions and the economic integration of the continent. However, its success depends not only on its construction but also on the management of social impacts, financial sustainability, future maintenance, and regional stability. It is a bet on the future that, if well executed, could significantly transform the economic landscape of central Tunisia and its neighbors.
