Gabon’s sole train on tricky track to modernity

Gabon’s sole railway, the Transgabonais, is in dire need of renovation due to severe track degradation, with over 1,000 broken tracks reported in 2022. The railway is crucial for transporting minerals, timber, and people, but it remains unreliable and often forced to transport coffins due to its dilapidated state. As Gabonese citizens prepare to vote on Saturday in the first presidential election since the 2023 coup, the country’s failing infrastructure, including the rail system, is a key issue.