TRANSPORT SYSTEM OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT: CHALLENGES AND DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS

Natal'ya V. Zaharova; Alla Sekacheva

doi:10.55186/2413046X_2026_11_2_17

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TRANSPORT SYSTEM OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT: CHALLENGES AND DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS

Published in MOSCOW ECONOMIC JOURNAL · Volume 11, Issue 2 · Pages 31–53 · Rubric: World economy

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55186/2413046X_2026_11_2_17 · EDN: XLPPUM

Received: 09.01.2026 Accepted: 16.02.2026 Published: 18.02.2026

Authors

Natal'ya V. Zaharova

Alla Sekacheva

Natal'ya V. Zaharova

Academic degree: doctor of economic sciences

Science rang: professor

Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Plekhanov Russian University of Economics" professor · Department of World Economy · Russian Federation · Moscow

Alla Sekacheva

Academic degree: candidate of economic sciences

Science rang: docent

Diplomatic Academy MGIMO of the Russian Foreign Ministry Associate Professor · Chair of International Economic Cooperation and Foreign Economic Relations · Russian Federation · Moscow

ABSTRACT

In the presented article, the authors describe the relevant state of the transport system in Africa, the specifics of its functioning, also the authors cover the main problems of its development in the context of strengthening the role of African states in the global economy and politics. The authors note that internal factors such as Africa's resource and demographic potential allow the continent to become one of the fastest-growing regions on the planet in the future. At the same time, it is important to understand that the current level of development of Africa's transport system negatively affects the pace of the continent's economic development. The reason for this may be the fact of a legacy of the colonial system that existed for a long time and then was replaced by neocolonial system, the main task of which was in the past and remains now - the unhindered exploitation of natural resources and the receipt of super profits by Western corporations. In this regard, the transport corridors on the continent were formed for the mentioned above goal. As a result, the share of African countries in global cargo and passenger turnover is currently insignificant and does not exceed several percent of the total volume. Despite this, the authors emphasize that the situation has tended to change for the better in recent years, as the BRICS countries are interested in deepening economic and investment cooperation with African countries, which will certainly contribute to the further development of the continent's transport and logistics system. The authors note that this sphere of cooperation is particularly relevant for Russia, as its political, trade and economic cooperation with African countries has reached a new level after the introduction of anti-Russian sanctions by Western states.

KEYWORDS

transport system, Africa, railways, air transportation, seaports, road transport

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Aleksandr Fomin

e-science@list.ru

Publishing editor

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e-science@list.ru

2085

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GOST

Zaharova N. V., Sekacheva A. B. TRANSPORT SYSTEM OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT: CHALLENGES AND DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS // MOSCOW ECONOMIC JOURNAL. 2026. no. 2. pp. 31-53. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55186/2413046X_2026_11_2_17. EDN: XLPPUM. (Date of access 24.10.2026).

MLA

Natal'ya V. Zaharova, Sekacheva A. B.. "TRANSPORT SYSTEM OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT: CHALLENGES AND DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS." MOSCOW ECONOMIC JOURNAL 11.2 (2026): 31-53. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55186/2413046X_2026_11_2_17. EDN: XLPPUM.

APA

Zaharova N. V., Sekacheva A. B. (2026). TRANSPORT SYSTEM OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT: CHALLENGES AND DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS. MOSCOW ECONOMIC JOURNAL, 11(2), 31-53. https://doi.org/10.55186/2413046X_2026_11_2_17 EDN: XLPPUM.

Chicago

Natal'ya V. Zaharova, Sekacheva A. B.. "TRANSPORT SYSTEM OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT: CHALLENGES AND DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS." MOSCOW ECONOMIC JOURNAL 11, no. 2 (2026): 31-53. https://doi.org/10.55186/2413046X_2026_11_2_17. EDN: XLPPUM.

WIKI

{{cite journal | author = Zaharova N. V., Sekacheva A. B. | title = TRANSPORT SYSTEM OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT: CHALLENGES AND DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS | journal = MOSCOW ECONOMIC JOURNAL | year = 2026 | volume = 11 | issue = 2 | pages = 31-53 | doi = 10.55186/2413046X_2026_11_2_17 }} EDN: XLPPUM

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