the challenges facing landlocked developing countries: a case study ...

only hindering normal road traffic but also contributing to road damage. In fact, an ironic
consequence of a special anti-competitive provision that reserves two thirds of freight for
carriage by vehicles from landlocked countries has resulted in significant additional delays:
goods at maritime ports wait for the arrival of vehicles from landlocked countries, despite the
presence of vehicles from maritime countries. 19
Although still largely inefficient, Burkina Faso’s domestic transport network has seen
significant improvements in recent years, reflecting the government’s prioritization of this
sector and donors’ support for the recent US$360m transport sector adjustment programme.
This has resulted in an increase in the road network from a single main road to 15,000km of
good roads (OECD/AfDB 2002).
Rail
The Abidjan – Ouagadougou rail corridor is the principal railway serving Burkina Faso. Like
much of Africa’s rail infrastructure, it is in poor condition and lacks proper maintenance. The
average age of the rolling stock exceeds 25 years. A 1995 UNCTAD study reports that the
2,308 km round-trip between Abidjan and Ouagadougou takes approximately 30 days. 20 The
deterioration of the railway is also having adverse effects on the road system since more
freight must now be shipped by road. Recent efforts to improve this railway, including a
$31m dollar loan from the World Bank, have resulted in sharp increases in carried freight
(EIU 2002).
Ports/Waterways
The primary ports serving Burkina Faso, Abidjan and Lomé, are considered to be two of the
best ports in Western Africa. Both are well-equipped, competitive, and in good condition
with sufficient storage for processing Burkinabe cargo. Burkina Faso, however, only uses a
small fraction of its allotted storage space at these ports. The one problem lobbied in
negotiations regarding the port of Abidjan concerns the delays caused by cumbersome
customs formalities, which can often take up to 10 days. None of the three rivers passing
through Burkina Faso are navigable for commercial ships.
POLITICAL RELATIONS
While Burkina Faso has witnessed domestic civil unrest, violence, and political instability,
such internal tension has not been as explosive as that of surrounding countries. Rather,
Burkina Faso’s international trade has been primarily hampered by the surrounding turmoil
that has plagued the region for much of the last two decades. Its most serious constraint has
been the recent outbreak of civil war in Côte d’Ivoire. The conflict has not only taken the
lives of several thousand, but also virtually halted transport within the country. With the
north of the country being controlled by the rebels, the primary railroad corridor to the port
of Abidjan has been closed. Since the overwhelming majority of Burkinabe trade has
traditionally passed through this corridor, this crisis has severe effects on Burkina Faso’s
economy.
19 Hence, while assisting trucking companies from landlocked countries, it significantly delays the transit trade
of landlocked countries.
20 This is approximately the same distance as Paris - Berlin or Los Angeles - Salt Lake City, roundtrips that take
about 30 hours.
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