1 Train, 54 Countries: Africa's $1 Trillion Gamble: The Trans-African Railway Megaproject

[@apolokaggwa6521]

Yes indeed, we achieved political independence over 60 years ago, today we are still economically dependent, but that is where our excuses should end. We can no longer blame others for our predicament. In our hands lies this vast continent of ours to shape the way we want and must in order to become what we should be. Therefore, "infrastructure" connecting the continent should be our first priority, to increase that "intra African trade" you have mentioned from a measly 15% and beyond. The cost will be enormous, but we can't do otherwise since our economic growth depends on it and in turn so does everything else really. Thank you very much for pointing this out.

[@bencebanati]

At 0:58 is that a pre WWI map of Europe? I couldn't believe my eyes for a second...

[@starmax1000]

Definitely made me raise my eyebrow as well haha

[@BerndG.-bu5yc]

Absolutely ! Germany, Austria-Hungary, Zarist Russia with Finland as its parts are pre-ww1.

[@llamagames6803]

I really appreciate how you address the west and china, that africa has to become self reliant, for that I'm your subscriber now, keep up the good work by the way

[@affable8696]

They can't; the Africans had all the time, money AND resources to become a global superpower. Compare to Japan, an island with low natural resources and the jump they made after the second world war. Africans are just too stupid to improve on their own.

[@BerndG.-bu5yc]

Africans are aware of their history as creators of the greatest civilization in history (Ancient Egypt) and therefore don't have to be dependent on any non-Africans. In terms of technology transfer, Africa is in the excellent position to acquire it from Africans in the diaspora, blacks in the West and others, who are willing to provide needed technology in their own self-interest. To industrialize its economy Africa doesn't have to go the Chinese or Asian path of export-led industrialization, intra-African trade could be sufficient to achieve the same goal, as the continent is, like South America and Russia, potentially self-sufficient. We are already observing encouraging signs like ca. 30% intra-African trade, a common market of 1.5 billion consumers and a process of Africanization driven by Afrocentrism. To industrialize its economy Africa, 1. must build a continental arms industry 2. ban the export of unprocessed raw materials and 3. increase intra-Afriacn trade

[@stevenroshni1228]

It's a pretty basic need if we want a united africa. For areas and countries away from the coast, it's needed to unisolcate

[@TheSilver2001]

Well, despite a fear of dependency, Africa can both use foreign and ADB funding for this project. Instead of putting all their eggs in one basket, they can work with China, Japan, India and the EU for foreign investment to not rely entirely on one entity

[@alvinbingham999]

Africa is rich in minerals. The resources will pay for our debts.

[@mlulekideandladla]

They are not owned by us but whites

[@BerndG.-bu5yc]

You obviously a non-African. You have a BS non-Afrocentrist worldview. Non-Africans with Eurocentrist or anti-African worldview can go to hell, Africa, which is potentially self-sufficient, doesn't need them.

[@dalemsilas8425]

They're already building the roads to strip mine Africa after they "fail to settle their debts." 😂😂

[@zodiacinfohub]

What are some examples of situations where China has taken over valuable assets in Africa. Can you do a video about that?

[@antonyaarts4154]

It’s a great idea and desperately needed as Africa has very few natural sea ports or littoral rivers. Land based travel is the ONLY way you can move things in Africa at any scale. A 4 lane electrified rail network along the same lines as this intended highway instead would be the best solution, like India’s new dedicated railway corridors. A high capacity rail network could move a hundred times the freight and people faster safer and most importantly way cheaper then anything else.

[@eriksmith6873]

The answer to this problem is easy. Of course you are correct. Rail would make possible much greater development. But roads are essential to modern economies as well. Rail AND road should be built. It's crazy the railroad wasn't finished a hundred years ago, but it appears that enough of it was built that we just need connections between completed segments. Much would need to be upgraded, and there would need to be a standard gauge that runs the entire length -- hopefully 4 feet 8.5 inches, just like the rest of the world. But it's not like the wheel would need to be reinvented, because so much of what is needed is already there. This would make a real improvement in Africa's standard of living.

[@gl7011]

300 billion should be peanuts to 54 countries. We have private companies here in the USA that generate that in a single year. Walmart does 500 billion in revenue annually. Build the road network and pay off the loans. As simple as that. As long as their are competent leaders managing the debt and paying off the loans, I dont see the problem. Let's Go get it done.

[@GaasubaMeskhenet]

why not trains??????????????

[@EastofVictoriaPark]

Could be but trains are difficult due to upfront costs and reliance on either pricey fares are significant government subsidies. Much easier for more affluent countries with robust tax bases. Also when rail is built it's tough to manage moving goods and allowing for passenger travel.

[@GaasubaMeskhenet]

@@EastofVictoriaPark why

[@Bernardoskau]

​​@@GaasubaMeskhenettf dym why

[@GaasubaMeskhenet]

@@Bernardoskau they just stated stuff without support or sources "It's tough to manage moving goods" why?

[@stevenroshni1228]

freight and passengers have to load at a central location and off load at a central location with trucks, public transit and driving taking people and things to their final destination. With highways people and things can ride uninterrupted.

[@jeevad.tharan4179]

Please improve your script. This video can be shortened over the 3rd of it.

[@MediaManagementAndPublishing]

It must first solidify defense and unification of ideals principles and institutions before making trade and commerce easily sustainable otherwise it will be turned against the people.

[@hounoki]

Great video. Only things I didn’t like about this were the shamelessly incorrect clickbait title (I mean there’s clickbait like provocative but basically on point, but this is just plain inaccurate and silly), and I’m not clear on how much is complete.

[@tyronemingo1467]

I could've swore they was almost done with a highway system and a trans African railway system that is already connected to ports and airports also major cities in Africa

[@brucebeamon5460]

EXCELLENT COMMENTARY especially towards the end ~ I PRAY 🙏🏿 for the day AFRICA IS/BECOMES SELF SUFFICIENT !

[@daltonmiller5590]

The project is a nice idea, but it's unlikely to come to fruition, at least not any time soon. Africa is simply too corrupt right now. There are definitely countries in Africa that are stable and successful enough to try their own projects, but a continent-wide project like this is bound to be taken advantage of by the other more corrupt countries. They would leech investment money off the stable countries, promising to use it to fund their roads, but the money will just end up in some rich oligarch's pockets. As for foreign investment, the video summed it up decently. China is building great infrastructure projects for African nations, but they are snakes; they are doing it for their own benefit, not Africa's. The debt trap is real and dangerous. And Western investment isn't any better. Not only do they not actually build anything, but they also openly don't give a shit, or worse, they lie and pretend to. For the West, Africa is just a geopolitical ballcourt to win against China. What Africa needs is a democratic revolution. They need to purge the corruption. Like a positive version of the Arab Spring, hopefully it would spread internationally and inspire each country's citizens to implement it in their own countries. With real leadership, Africa could progress so much faster. They could actually rely on one another if this happened. This project could then be feasible. But for now, Africa must continue to rely on the international community for trade and investment, and that puts them in dangerous waters full of Western snakes, and Chinese loansharks. Good luck, Africa. Change must come from within.

[@b_uppy]

They need the empowerment of permaculture for one, which allows for a more stable food supply, instead of being reliant on corporate conglomerate products and service. Think this highway system is still meant to serve globalist interests outside of Africa more than intra African needs. Most small produces lack big pocket books to keep a fleet of vehicles, so why support a vehicle-dependent system? Think more rail, suitable for passenger and freight makes a lot more sense for serving African interests.

[@Rightonrightoff]

Oh hush

[@paullangford8179]

With the exception of Botswana, African governments are merely collections of opportunistic scum who regard their job as a sinecure that allows them to plunder the public purse.

[@eriksmith6873]

One thing I don't see covered in the KZbin videos on this subject -- what side of the road will people drive on? Will drivers be switching between right and left when they cross borders? This freeway system should have been built long ago, but I've got to wonder if this will be a problem.

[@stevenroshni1228]

I believe the driving rules of the country drive though would apply. Ideally over ramps but a stoplight half diverging diamond, would switch cars over at the boarder. This makes sense because most non professional drivers will only be traveling domestically or regionally

[@dalemsilas8425]

They are building highways directly over their beaches! That's not advised.

[@RFGfotografie]

I love the idea, scared about the rest though. But Africa will become a better continent.

[@Lycan3303]

highly developed highway networks Romans: "you're welcome"

[@rvymvn]

what have they got to do with this?

[@dalemsilas8425]

Highly developed? They're just one layer of rocks over dirt most of them don't exist anymore. 😂😂

[@The_Ballo]

Goodbye forests

[@hulamrasol8987]

Get france out

[@earthboy5719]

You talked for 9 min and said nothing. What a waste of time

[@b_uppy]

Think more passenger and freight rail would serve them better. Highways serve the richest best (aka globalist elitists), whereas denser rail serves a lot more without accompanying burden.

[@chadsworthgigafuck7076]

You repeat some stuff multiple times. You need to improve your scripts

[@joshuapatrick682]

🇨🇳 paid for it didn’t they?

[@kimberleypex]

This will be a succes ! I feel it. So much positive things will happen. Also forestbuilding , and less airplanes, food and medicine for the poor people . And China , maybe Xi Jinping sees also positive things , to deal with Africa, or buy a piece of desert with possibilities . 🌟🌟🌟

[@b_uppy]

Definitely more forest building, but also more food and medicine instead of less for the poor people. Doubt Jinping is doing this for the good of Africans, as the Chinese people are greatly abused under him as well (Look up organ harvesting of political prisoners, tofu dreg construction, as well as dams that let off water without warning sirens that kill people, while the ruling class get rich).

[@kaiulani3044]

Chinese debt trap is a myth. Do your research.

[@b_uppy]

'Wu Mao' is a real thing. Chinese debt trap is a real thing. Unicorns are just rhinos. There, did the research...

[@CuriousReason]

Apart from Sri Lanka, in 2011, Tajikistan's parliament "dictator" forcibly had to cede approximately 1,000 km2 (390 sq mi) of land to China in exchange for waiving an outstanding debt amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars. Chinese military forcibly entered the land. There is a whole Wikipedia page dedicated to debt-trap policy. Search "Debt trap policy"

[@kabzaify]

@@CuriousReasonmost of our debt is to western institutions and we nothing to show for it.

[@selcukcilek555]

@@CuriousReason China DID NOT enter "forcibly" into Tajikistan. Tajikistan and China have an agreement on a military base which is controlled by the Tajik Army. That's China's second military base out of own territory. Compared to the 1000 US bases around the world you make yourself laughable. Further you TOTALY twist the story of Hambantota International Port. Read at least the Wiki page . An information source you can't blaim to be Pro China. The Wikipedia page about the "Debt Trap Policy" also says "However, many academics, professionals, and think tanks have stated that China's lending practices are not behind the debt troubles faced by borrowing nations, and that Chinese banks have never seized an asset from any nation, and are willing to restructure the terms of existing loans" The fact that the page exists DOES NOT PROVE THAT THE PRACTICE EXISTS.

[@DjChronokun]

sounds like chinese propaganda but ok

[@CuriousReason]

Did you watch it till the end? I have been highly critical of China in this piece.

[@b_uppy]

​@@CuriousReason I agree with that assessment. Thank you for the deep dive.

[@Rightonrightoff]

What does this even mean? You weirdos in the west have your entire consciousness be fixated with China. All you think about is China this China that lmao. The west has no moral authority to lecture anyone on anything. Your delusional bubble will eventually burst.

[@selcukcilek555]

@@CuriousReason He didn't watch. But your comments on "China Debt Tap" is just copy/paste of western NONSENSE.

[@FoxBoi69]

in the intro you praise highways as being the what enables modern western civilisation. i strongly disagree. if there was no highway network but good railway networks, the world would be signifficantly better

[@CuriousReason]

I think both are good in their own right. But in the 21st century when people want 1 day-shipping and fast shipping, trucks are highly mobile and makes it possible.

[@b_uppy]

​@@CuriousReason Highways require a lot of vehicles, fuel and a lot more workers tied into it that makes it prohibitively capital intensive, and therefore favors the richest/global elite. Gasoline prices can be manipulated and expensive, again that is an issue.

[@CuriousReason]

Agree!

[@joshuapatrick682]

You know how much more rail lines would have to exist to transport all the people and stuff that travels vis highway? Use a modicum of critical thinking next time…

[@stevenroshni1228]

the US highway system was built for national defense and disaster response. Each city has about twice the equipment needed to respond to a small problem like a few building or power lines collapsing. When someplace gets hit with something big, the extra cacpity each city has goes to that area. Trucks don't have to wait for the train an can navagate the back roads if the main route becomes unpassble.