Railway transport in Africa constrained by rise in vandalism and theft

By Danilo Desiderio

Compared to other continents, Africa has a very limited and underdeveloped railway network. A paper published from Tralac in September 2023 noted that the majority of railways (with a few exceptions), provide mainly links between coastal seaports and inland destinations, while those offering an interconnection between African states are very few.

The paper also noted that even currently, 16 countries out of 54 African States in Africa still do not have railways. In addition, as many of them were built during the colonial period, these railways have aged significantly, because of years of underinvestment and lack of maintenance mainly due to a lack of consistent funding dedicated to these operations.

As a result, road transport has become the dominant mode of transport in the continent, leading to congestion, accidents, and increased reliance on fuel imports. The African Development Bank calculates that road transport currently carries 80 percent of goods and 90 percent of passenger traffic, noting that the overreliance on road transport increases the cost of transporting goods, making African products less competitive in global markets.

Despite efforts to revitalize railway transport in Africa, such as the launch of recent Infrastructure projects to improve regional connectivity through cross-border rail projects (the Lobito and Tazara railway corridors or the recently launched Tanzania Standard Gauge Railway are some examples), significant challenges remain.

Vandalism and theft on railways are examples. High levels of poverty and unemployment in most African countries push individuals to resort to the theft of valuable railway materials and track equipment like copper cables for resale. Inadequate security measures and limited resources for railway maintenance make railway infrastructure highly vulnerable.

Despite reliable, comprehensive data on railway crime across different regions in Africa is difficult to obtain, startling figures have recently emerged in some African States about the occurrence of such phenomena. Along the Ethio-Djibouti railway, for instance, theft and vandalism are frequent. The South African Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) is another case in point.

At the end of 2023, the South African rail transport company issued a statement where it reported an interim loss of R2.2bn ($118 million) during the first six months of 2023. TFR reported that there are about five, six, and four acts of theft and vandalism daily on its railway network. Only the Sishen–Saldanha railway line, also known as the Ore Export Line (OREX), recorded in 2024 a total of 1,334 criminal incidents. But what is more worrying is that this increase in criminality on railways may act as a deterrent for the attraction of the much-needed private sector investment for the development of such infrastructure.

Reducing vandalism and theft on railways in Africa is critical, and requires a multi-pronged approach to be addressed. This includes the use of fences and barriers and theft-resistant materials for critical components like cables and signaling equipment, the implementation of robust surveillance systems (including CCTV cameras, motion sensors, drones, etc.), regular patrols, and fostering strong relationships with local communities to encourage reporting of criminal activities.

Implementing these measures can significantly reduce the incidence of these phenomena and ensure the safe and efficient operation of this vital mode of transportation, which is indispensable for the development of territories characterized by long distances, as is the case in Africa.

Danilo Desiderio serves as the CEO of Desiderio Consultants Ltd in Nairobi, Kenya, specializing in African customs, trade, and transport policies. He is a customs and trade expert at the World Bank and a senior associate at the Horn Economic and Social Policy Institute (HESPI).