This note is based on the "Appraisal of the Road Management Initiative (RMI) Concepts Implementation in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) Countries", a study carried out using forms, and procedures prepared by the RMI, and to some extent, builds on regional reviews of the road sector in SSA countries.

This overview of the road transport sector in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries, includes an analysis of current status, and developments since 1989, and examines forty seven countries in four regions: the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region, which given its large, and more advance economy compared to other countries, has been treated as a separate entity in this review; the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) region; the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region; and, the Union Douaniere et Economique de l'Afrique Central (UDEAC) region.

The note is based on a review of the road sector within the member countries of the Customs and Economic Union of Central African States (UDEAC), and describes the road network, indicating conditions on the main paved network remained fairly stable during the last decade, mostly due to massive rehabilitation efforts - donor funded - not the result of regular maintenance efforts. As for unpaved roads, data indicates deterioration, likely caused by inadequate maintenance, and heavier traffic.