How many Africans died during construction of the Congo-Ocean Railway?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

During the construction of the Congo-Ocean Railway, which took place between 1921 and 1934, it is estimated that between 15,000 and 20,000 Africans died.1

This project, which connected Pointe-Noire to Brazzaville, was part of a broader colonial effort in French Equatorial Africa that relied heavily on forced labour, head taxes, and draconian contracts to build infrastructure. The immense loss of life associated with the railway stands as a stark testament to the human cost of these colonial policies, which prioritized economic extraction over the fundamental rights and lives of the local population.1