On Monday, October 19, 2026, in Abidjan, a meeting between the IFF and SITARAIL (Société Internationale de Transport Africain par Rail) provided an opportunity for fruitful and constructive discussions with the Executive Committee.

The agenda included a tour of the facilities and several working sessions focused on developing railway skills and identifying new avenues for cooperation.

Several priority areas were identified: welder certification, rolling stock maintenance, mentoring future leaders, training train conductors, and providing support to the École Supérieure des Métiers Ferroviaires (ESMF) in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.

This meeting marks a new step in building a lasting partnership, based on the sharing of expertise and a common goal: to support the professional development of railway talent and contribute to the sector’s performance in Africa.

A big thank you to the SITARAIL teams for their warm welcome and the quality of the discussions, both in the meeting rooms and in the field.