Auditors raise doubts about EU road aid to Africa

The EU is one of the leading donors in the road sector in Sub-Saharan Africa. Road transport is a focal sector for EDF (European Development Fund) cooperation strategy with most Sub-Saharan African countries. Financially, it is by far the most important cooperation sector, with about €7.4bn in EDF commitments made in this region over the period from 1995 to 2011. Improper road maintenance and vehicle overloading is putting the sustainability of Sub-Saharan road network into danger.

• Primary Source

European Court of Auditors: Press Release, ECA/12/56: Poor maintenance “threatens roads in Sub-Saharan Africa” – say EU Auditors http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_ECA-12-56_en.pdf

European Court of Auditors: Special Report, No.17, 2012: http://eca.europa.eu/portal/pls/portal/docs/1/19834746.PDF

---