Yaounde, 18 July 2025 (ECA) – Central Africa must accelerate the modernization of its transport and logistics systems to fully take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and fast-track its economic integration. This was the overarching message emerging from a high-level policy dialogue hosted by the Subregional Office for Central Africa of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), ahead of the fourth joint session of the Intergovernmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts.
The virtual expert group meeting brought together nearly 150 participants representing governments, Regional Economic Communities, specialized institutions such as the Development Bank of Central African States (BDEAC), the private sector, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the United Nations system.
As Central Africa strives to reposition itself within the continental trade landscape, the AfCFTA is increasingly viewed as a launchpad to address the region’s persistent structural vulnerabilities including high unemployment, food insecurity, external dependence, and exposure to global shocks. In this context, enhancing physical and economic connectivity has become an urgent imperative.
“Without modern, seamless, and sustainable logistics systems, the promise of the AfCFTA will remain out of reach. This is not only an economic imperative, but also a social and security one,” said Jean Luc Mastaki, Director of ECA’s Subregional Office for Central Africa.
Throughout the discussions, participants coalesced around four critical action areas. First, they emphasized the need to upgrade regional infrastructure to ensure inclusive, efficient, and multimodal connectivity. Second, they called for decisive measures to reduce logistics costs, which currently account for up to 40 percent of import value in some countries. Third, they advocated for the creation of an enabling environment for innovation, digitalization, and enhanced cooperation, particularly through corridor performance monitoring and human capital development. Finally, participants highlighted the importance of mobilizing blended and innovative financing to scale up investment in smart and resilient infrastructure.
Despite growing political will, the region continues to face deep-rooted structural barriers. Today, less than 30 percent of regional roads are in good condition. Intra-regional trade among ECCAS member States remains below 2 percent of total exports, far behind other African regional economic communities. Moreover, over 80 percent of trade flows still transit through costly, insecure, and poorly maintained corridors, undermining the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises and constraining economic diversification efforts.
In response, ECA underscored the need for stronger policy alignment and operational frameworks. Mr. Mastaki called for national and regional strategies to be grounded in practical tools, including the establishment of logistics observatories, smart single window systems, regional financing mechanisms, and coherent regulatory harmonization. He also stressed that developing the region’s human capital is essential to building a logistics sector capable of meeting AfCFTA ambitions.
Echoing this call for transformation, the African Development Bank presented a strategic roadmap structured around three pillars: investing in regional integration corridors, such as Brazzaville–Kinshasa, Douala–Bangui, and Douala–N’Djamena, aligned with PIDA-PAP 2; harmonizing trade and transit facilitation frameworks by supporting regional regulatory convergence; strengthening institutional and technical capacity, particularly through the integration of digital tools, enhanced traceability, data interoperability, and shared governance across logistics corridors.
“Infrastructure investment must go hand in hand with improved logistics services and a long-term vision grounded in resilience, sustainability, and competitiveness,” said Joseph N’guessan, Division Manager for Infrastructure in Central and North Africa at the AfDB.
In closing, Mr. Mastaki issued a compelling call to action. “The time for analysis is over. What Central Africa needs now is coordinated action. A connected region is the foundation for its structural transformation,” he affirmed.
Zacharie Roger MBARGA - Communications Officer
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
637, rue 3.069, Quartier du Lac, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Tel: (+237) 222504348
E-mail: zacharie.mbargayene@un.org