Sfax Revives Light Rail Project with Support from the AfDB

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has reaffirmed its commitment to support Tunisia in reviving the light rail project in Sfax, the country’s second-largest urban area. This strategic commitment, aimed at strengthening the urban transport sector, was reiterated on Friday during an official meeting in Tunis.

The gathering brought together Minister of Transport Rached Amari, a delegation from the AfDB, senior officials from the Ministry of Transport, and a representative from the Ministry of Economy and Planning.

The meeting served as an opportunity to assess the conditions required for effectively relaunching the long-delayed project, which had been stalled due to lack of funding and clear decision-making.

Technical Support in the Initial Phase

As a first step, the AfDB has committed to providing technical assistance to update the project studies for the Sfax light rail system, which is considered a key infrastructure development for the city.

This phase is essential for redefining the project’s scope, updating technical data, and incorporating Tunisia’s new priorities in terms of sustainable and inclusive transport.

Once this step is completed, the AfDB may consider partial or full financing of the project, under terms to be defined, as part of its infrastructure support portfolio in North Africa.

A Strategic Partnership

Minister Rached Amari praised the quality of cooperation between Tunisia and the AfDB, describing the pan-African institution as “a trusted partner” in the country’s development.

He emphasized the importance of the light rail project in easing congestion in Sfax’s transport network, improving urban mobility, and advancing the transition to cleaner modes of transport.

Discussions also addressed other major transport infrastructure projects that are still awaiting implementation, with the aim of accelerating their rollout through improved inter-institutional coordination.

Present in Tunisia for decades, the AfDB remains a key player in development financing. It has contributed to the completion of numerous large-scale projects in the sectors of water, energy, infrastructure, and logistics.