The Only Road

‘The Only Road’ by Said Manseur reflects on the 1,800-kilometer journey that residents from Tindouf, an Algerian city bordering Mauritania, Western Sahara and Morocco, follow to get to the Algerian capital, Algiers.

The journey involves a 1,000-kilometer stretch from coastal cities to the desert, followed by the National Road No.50, an 800-kilometer straight road linking Tindouf to Béchar. This road is one of the longest straight roads in Algeria, where the closest inhabited point is at least 700 kilometers away.

Infrastructure such as the National Road No.50 is significant in giving residents of Tindouf access to mobility and transportation options, as well as contributing to the region's stability and addressing the challenges that arise due to the city’s paramount location amid the ongoing conflict over the Western Sahara territory.