Africa’s ‘Land-Linked’ Nations Chart a New Trade Route to Prosperity

By Kizito Makoye
AWAZA, Turkmenistan, Aug 7 2025 – Once relegated to the periphery of Africa’s economic map due to their lack of coastline, the continent’s landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) are now reframing their geographic constraints as gateways to opportunity.

At the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries held this week in Awaza, Turkmenistan, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) launched a bold positioning paper calling for a narrative shift—from “landlocked” to “land-linked”.

“Land-linked flips the narrative: inland countries become bridges, not barriers,” said Samuel Doe, UNDP’s Resident Representative in Ethiopia. “With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) can turn geography into a competitive edge—moving goods, services, and data faster and more affordably across Africa and beyond.”

The strategy, which aligns with the Awaza Programme of Action (2024–2034) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, advocates for transformative investments in connectivity, innovation, regional integration, and climate resilience—framing LLDCs as essential players in Africa’s socio-economic revival.

Turning Isolation into Centrality

Historically hampered by their remoteness from ports, Africa’s 16 LLDCs face high transportation costs, low trade volumes, and heavy reliance on primary commodity exports. However, that narrative is quickly evolving.

The UNDP report highlights key success stories:

• Rwanda’s Kigali Logistics Platform now acts as a regional trade hub, linking inland transport to ports in Kenya and Tanzania.
• Uganda’s Standard Gauge Railway and revamped Malaba–Kampala corridor are repositioning the country as East Africa’s inland logistics centre.
• Ethiopia, long without direct access to the sea, has capitalised on its modern air transport system and the Ethio-Djibouti Railway to cut freight times from 72 to just 12 hours.

“As we gather here in Awaza, we stand at a pivotal moment,” said Doe. “Africa’s LLDCs are becoming dynamic land-linked economies at the heart of the continent’s socio-economic resurgence.”

Between 2013 and 2024, Zambia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe led LLDC export performance with average annual exports of USD 9.3 billion, USD 6.4 billion, and USD 4.5 billion, respectively. Though LLDCs contribute only 1.1% to global trade, they are increasingly vital to Africa’s regional value chains, supplying copper, gold, coffee, sugar, and textiles across the continent.

Digital Leapfrogging and Innovation

Technology is helping LLDCs leapfrog logistical bottlenecks. The report notes that digital services, fintech, and e-commerce are boosting access to markets, especially for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

“Innovation is a key enabler of the land-linked transformation we are embarking on,” said Doe.

Countries like Rwanda have piloted blockchain systems to streamline customs and reduce border clearance times by up to 80 percent. In Ethiopia, blockchain is helping producers meet EU agricultural export standards, while Uganda is experimenting with AI-driven crop forecasting.

Still, digital gaps remain. Internet penetration in African LLDCs hovers at 20 percent, but UNDP sees this as “a growth opportunity” rather than a constraint.

Powering Trade Through Energy and Infrastructure

Energy access remains another stumbling block. In many LLDCs, especially in the Sahel, electricity coverage is under 20 percent. Yet with vast renewable potential—especially solar and hydro—countries are beginning to tap into cross-border energy markets.

Projects like the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, the North Core Transmission Line, and the Southern African Power Pool are expected to transform regional energy trade, powering industries and reducing export costs.

“Many LLDCs are rich in solar and hydro resources,” noted Doe. “We must harness this to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and drive value-added exports.”

Physical connectivity is also central. While transport costs remain higher than in coastal states, they are being offset by strategic investments like intermodal corridors, dry ports, and rail-air hubs. These are designed not only to move goods but also to facilitate the integration of LLDCs into Global Value Chains (GVCs).

Opening Markets, Expanding Horizons

Perhaps the most significant development for Africa’s LLDCs is the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The trade pact, which covers a market of 1.3 billion people, offers reduced tariffs and harmonised trade rules.

The UNDP paper projects a 10 percent rise in exports for countries like Rwanda by 2035, thanks to AfCFTA-driven investments in agro-processing, manufacturing, and green industries.

LLDCs such as Eswatini, Lesotho, Niger, and Malawi are already seeing over 30 percent of exports going to other African countries, a sign of deepening regional integration. Eswatini, in particular, sends 88% of its exports within the continent.

Climate Resilience as Economic Imperative

Amid this economic momentum, climate change remains a serious threat. From worsening droughts in Chad to flooding in Burkina Faso, African LLDCs are disproportionately affected.

The report urges countries to mainstream climate resilience into trade systems and infrastructure. This includes climate-proofed transport corridors, solar-powered cold chains, and sustainable irrigation.

“To unlock their full potential, we must mobilise diverse financing, shift from low-value sectors, and build climate-smart infrastructure,” said Ahunna Eziakonwa, UNDP Regional Director for Africa.

To sustain momentum, the UNDP calls for the creation of an African LLDC Platform under the African Union. This would monitor progress, facilitate cross-country learning, and promote South-South cooperation, especially in infrastructure and digital trade.

IPS UN Bureau Report

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