Libyan road project to link Chad, Niger, Sudan to Mediterranean

N’DJAMENA, Chad, April 22, 2004 (PANA) — Libya this week rolled out plans for a
major road network that could link Chad, Niger and Sudan, which
are member countries of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States
(CEN-SAD).

At a CEN-SAD Transport ministers conference held here, the Libyan
delegation disclosed that when constructed, the road network
would link the three countries to the Mediterranean Sea through
Libya.

The project comprises two main roads, the first running across
the desert and linking Gatroun (Libya) to Bol (Chad) passing
through Dirkou and Agadez in Niger, while the second will cut
through Koufra (Libya) and Alawinat, Wadi Halfa and Khartoum
(Sudan).

All the delegations at the N’djamena meeting acknowledged Libyan
leader Col. Kadhafi’s “constant endeavour to initiate and
implement projects for the well being of the region.”

Eritrea, Chad, Niger, Sudan, Benin, Morocco and Mali also
presented road projects at the meeting, which urged the general
secretariat of CEN-SAD to define and adopt a clear policy paper
on road network development between member countries.

Participants also encouraged the promotion of joint studies with
a view to cutting down costs, adding that such projects could be
submitted to other institutions such as NEPAD.

The N’djamena meeting came ahead of the next CEN-SAD summit
billed for Bamako, Mali in May 2004.

Most of its decisions would be tabled at the summit for approval.