How does Africa's geography hinder its trade and economic connectivity?

Africa's geography creates two major barriers to trade. First, the Sahara Desert—comparable in size to the entire United States—effectively functions as an impassable ocean of sand that has historically isolated sub-Saharan Africa from Eurasia and North Africa. Even today, there are only a handful of highways crossing it and no railways connecting north to south. Second, Africa's coastlines are remarkably smooth, lacking the natural harbors essential for maritime commerce. Despite being nearly four times larger than Europe, Africa's coastline is about six times shorter due to its smoothness. This severe shortage of usable natural harbors has significantly handicapped Africans' ability to conduct maritime trade throughout history, limiting economic development and cultural exchange.