• Congo launches paving of 542-km Corridor 13 section
• Four-year project links Brazzaville to regional capitals
• Road aims boost trade, support AfCFTA integration

Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou-N’Guesso this week launched work on paving a 542-kilometer stretch of Corridor 13, a transcontinental route linking Brazzaville to Bangui in the Central African Republic, N’Djamena in Chad, Tripoli in Libya and Cape Town in South Africa.

The section runs through several northeastern localities, including Pokola, Mboua, Epena, Impfondo, Dongou, Enyelle, Betou and Gouga. Once completed, it is expected to strengthen the country’s position within the corridor, a key transport link between Central and Southern Africa.

The project will last four years and is divided into six lots. It will deliver a road 11.5 meters wide, with a two-lane carriageway measuring between 7.5 and 9 meters. The design speed is set at 60 km/h in urban areas and 80 km/h in rural areas, according to project specifications.

Authorities say the road will help end the long-standing isolation of several areas that become difficult to access during the rainy season. It is also expected to facilitate trade between communities along the corridor and support regional integration.

The project forms part of a broader government plan to modernize cross-border corridors and increase trade with neighboring countries. It follows the launch earlier this month of redevelopment works on a section of the Pointe-Noire–Cabinda road, which aims to improve traffic flow and boost exchanges between Brazzaville and Luanda.

Officials say these investments are intended to position the country to benefit from opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), as governments across the continent step up efforts to deepen economic integration.

Henoc Dossa