Guinea Conakry validates a €41.8 million loan from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) for the construction of the 45 km Boké-Dabiss route, a section of the Boké-Québo corridor that connects it to Guinea-Bissau. The AfDB and the EU are also financing the project with €87 million.

The Guinean Parliament, meeting in plenary session on November 10, 2020, approved the €41.8 million loan agreement – for the construction of the Boké-Québo road (Boké-Dabiss section, 45 km) – concluded between the IDB and the Republic of Guinea. This financing, concluded last March, has a maturity of 20 years including 4 years of deferral.

The scope of the works includes the construction and asphalting of the road according to the standards of development of the ECOWAS Inter-State Roads; the widening of the platform to insert a 7 m wide pavement bordered by 2 shoulders of 1.5 m. In related works, it is planned the construction of boreholes, market sheds, a socio-educational center and 30 km of rural tracks.

The Boké-Québo road is part of the Trans-African Dakar-Lagos Corridor No. 7 identified as the backbone of the social and economic development of the sub-region. Funded by the  African Development Bank (AfDB) and the European Union (EU) to the tune of €87 million, this project will consist of the development and asphalting of 112 km of roads, including 87 km in Guinea and 25 km in Guinea-Bissau, according to ECOWAS standards. The project is planned to last four years.

It is also planned to build a 140 m long prestressed concrete bridge over the Tinguilinta River, as well as related developments and measures consisting of socio-economic and commercial infrastructure, tracks, etc.

Once completed, this road will contribute to the strengthening of sub-regional integration and trade. In addition to opening up Guinea and Guinea Bissau from outside Guinea, this axis will reduce the time taken to cross the Kogon River.

Romuald Ngueyap

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