Aux origines du chemin de fer de Djibouti à Addis-Abeba
Institution:
Paris 4Disciplines:
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Abstract EN:
This study consisting of six volumes, the last one composed of annexes and iconography, examines the franco-ethiopian railways and the two companies that built its two sections: the "cie imperiale des chemins de fer ethiopiens" and the "cie des chemins de fer francoethiopiens de djibouti a addis-adeba". The first company was developed under the control of international financiers, composed largely of south african interests and, discretely, those of king leopold of belgium, their aim being an east-west junction, complementing the cape to cairo railway in an african cross. Through their network of investments, which included several colonial companies such as the "cie de mozambique", the "cie de katanga" and the mother-company, the "oceana consolidated company", they controlled the port of djibouti. Interecine conflicts resulted in the elimination of a certain group and the dissolution of the first company. The french government intervention enables a consortium of eight french banks to obtain a new concession, known as the "vitalien" in 1908, they finance the second company and finish the railway to the ethiopian capital in 1916. Numerous agreements mark the history of the franco-ethiopian railway, such as the tripartite arrangement of 1906 which divides the region in english, french and italian spheres fo influence. The finances of the two companies, the construction and the exploitation of the rail way, the contracts and the commerce of the port of djibouti, worth 300 millions francs in 1935, are also examined.
Abstract FR:
L'etude en six volumes, le dernier comportant les annexes et l'iconographie, examine les deux compagnies qui construisent les deux sections du chemin de fer franco-ethiopien: la "cie imperiale des chemins de fer ethiopiens" et la "cie des chemins de fer francoethiopiens de djibouti a addis-adeba". La premiere compagnie est soumise a des financiers a taille internationale, dont des interets miniers de l'afrique du sud, mais aussi discretement, du roi leopold de belgique, le but cherche etant la jonction est-ouest avec le chemin de fer du "cap au caire", dans une croix africaine. A travers leurs divers investissements, qui incluent de grandes compagnies coloniales, comme la "cie de mozambique", la "cie de katanga" et la societe mere, l'"oceana consolidated cy", ils accaparent des terrains portuaires de djibouti. Des luttes intestines aboutissent a l'ecart de certaine faction et a la decheance de la premiere compagnie ferroviaire. L'intervention du gouvernement francais procure une nouvelle concession, "vitalien", en 1908, a un consortium de huit banques qui financent la deuxieme compagnie et achevent la ligne a la capitale ethiopienne en 1916. Nombreux accords marquent l'histoire du franco-ethiopien, dont l'arrangement tri-partite de 1906 delimite des spheres d'influence anglaise, francaise et italienne. Les finances des deux compagnies, la construction et l'exploitation du chemin de fer, les inventaires, les cahiers des charges, et le commerce du port de djibouti, qui atteint une valeur de 300 millions de francs en 1935, sont etudies.