Côte d’Ivoire plans high-speed train linking Abidjan to Yamoussoukro

After Morocco in late 2018, could Côte d’Ivoire become the second African country to operate a high-speed train? The West African nation’s government is pursuing a high-speed rail line between Abidjan, its economic capital, and Yamoussoukro, the political capital established by former President Félix Houphouët-Boigny in his birthplace. The 640-kilometer route would cut travel time between the two cities to just 45 minutes, down from roughly three hours by car. The train would then continue north, serving Bouaké, the country’s second-largest city, as well as Korhogo and Ferkessédougou.

The project is currently undergoing feasibility and financing studies. Its goals include increasing Yamoussoukro’s attractiveness and relieving congestion in Abidjan, where housing costs are high. Locally, the TGV is seen as a boon, especially if Côte d’Ivoire decides to bid for the 2038 FIFA World Cup. However, chances of winning the hosting rights are slim, as Morocco is already the African host for 2030.

Boosting economic development through transport

As part of a broad economic growth support plan worth €175 billion — heavily focused on transport — the government of Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé has included this high-speed line in the National Development Programme for 2026–2030. Other projects include a new metro for Abidjan slated for 2029, construction of new roads and over a thousand kilometers of highways, plus two new airports in San Pedro and Bondoukou, located in the southwest and northeast respectively. President Alassane Ouattara, in power since 2011, aims to make these achievements — and perhaps soon the TGV — symbols of the country’s economic and social modernization.