Interconnected infrastructure

In a speech to the African Union, then AU Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-zuma paid specific tribute to Rwanda, Ethiopia, South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya for leading the way in aviation but said more countries must join in this growth.

“We must encourage other countries to join them to open their airspaces to all African countries,” she said.

“Africa’s future will depend on integration and this includes building interconnected infrastructure,” she added.

But there are challenges. Africa’s infrastructure is still below par, argues Amani Abou-zeid, the new Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy at the AU Commission.

Abou-zeid, an Egyptian development expert, told Chinafrica just before she was elected that the shortage of energy and transport infrastructure has all contributed to slow