Navigating Africa’s trade shifts

West Africa’s realisation of its mining potential hinges on innovative and efficient logistics and supply chain solutions. This, according to Michael De Wit, group chief commercial officer at logistics service provider Stacks Africa.Significant deposits of gold, bauxite, iron ore, lithium and other critical minerals have been found in the region, with Ghana, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire leading exploitation. “From importing equipment and consumables to exporting mined minerals, logistics plays a strategic role in ensuring operational continuity and cost control for the mines,” De Wit tells Freight News. “The remote locations of many mines, coupled with infrastructure gaps and regulatoryhurdles, make logistics a critical challenge – and create opportunities for innovative solutions.” A mix of political shifts, security concerns and infrastructure investments are reshaping traditional trade routes and giving rise to new corridors that are redefining cargo movement across the continent.“Recent political developments, particularly the rise of military regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, have had a profound impact on regional log istics,” says De Wit. “For example, the closure of the Benin-Niger border has forced freight forwarders to reroute Niger-bound cargo through Nigeria or Togo. “However, these alternatives come with their own challenges.The southern route is now considered high-risk, pushing logistics providers to opt for northern alternatives.” Corridors through Algeria and Morocco to Niger “once underutilised, are now becoming a solution for industry players seeking safer and more reliable opt ions”.Solutions are also being found to airfreight capacity constraints in West Africa, he says.For a country like Sierra Leone that faces major constraints due to minimal f lights in and out of the country, “our solution is to airfreight cargo to Conakry and then road freight to Freetown. Creating a viable Conakry-Freetown corridor could alleviate pressure on Sierra Leone’s airfreight needs.” New logistics routes are following infrastructure development. Mali could potentially switch from Dakar to Conakry as its main gateway following the construction of a new interstate road through Guinea, which will reduce the transit distance by 150km. “If shipping lines can ensure efficient transit times to Conakry, this could become the preferred gateway for Bamako,” says De Wit.“These developments underscore the critical importance of having a strong local presence and reliable agents in Africa. The continent’s logistics environment is f luid and often unpredictable, requiring agile and informed partners on the ground.” Stacks has a network of its own offices and partner agents across the region. “Through this we can offer insights and specialised solutions to clients and freight forwarders navigating these evolving corridors.”ER