Africa-Press. Chad has expressed its objection to the route chosen by Cameroon for the planned railway project between Yaoundé and N’Djamena, emphasizing that the final decision regarding the project has not yet been made and requires further consultations between the two countries.
The Cameroonian presidency approved a western route for the railway last week, which aims to connect Cameroon and Chad. The line will extend from the Cameroonian city of Ngaoundéré to the Chadian capital N’Djamena, passing through Garoua, Maroua, and Kousséri, with a total length of approximately 997 kilometers and an estimated cost exceeding 4 trillion Central African francs.
According to informed sources, a feasibility study conducted by Canadian and South African companies proposed three potential routes for the project: the central, eastern, and western routes, before Cameroonian President Paul Biya selected the western route.
However, Chadian authorities announced in a statement from the Ministry of Transport that the railway project between Ngaoundéré and N’Djamena has not been officially approved yet. Reports indicate that N’Djamena prefers an alternative route that passes through the southern part of the country, allowing for the connection of several key agricultural areas and enhancing economic development in those regions.
For his part, Cameroonian Minister of Transport Jean Ernest Massena Ngali Bebehe confirmed that the route announced by Yaoundé is not a final decision, noting that the Chadian side will participate in determining the final option for the project.
It is expected that the presidents of Cameroon and Chad will finalize the decision regarding this strategic project, which is viewed as one of the most important infrastructure and economic integration projects between the two countries.
