The opening of the Benguela Railway. The western key to Central & Southern Africa

The Opening of the Benguela Railway: The Western Key to Central & Southern Africa is a digital reproduction of a historical special edition originally published on December 14, 1929, by the African World journal. This eBook documents the geopolitical and economic impact of the completion of the Benguela Railway (CFB), celebrating it as the "Atlantic Key" that opened the continent's interior to global trade. The work compiles articles, photographs, and testimonies from key figures such as Sir Robert Williams and General Sir Joachim Machado, providing a detailed look at the railway infrastructure, operations at the Port of Lobito, and the mining potential of Katanga. This edition preserves a valuable testimony of early 20th-century engineering and diplomacy, serving as an essential primary source for historians and researchers of African logistics. Published by BICOT, this edition supports the cause of demining in Angola through The HALO Trust.

Acknowledgements

1. Image acquisition funded by John Comley

2. eBook editing by Chris Mannhardt