A billion-dollar expansion of Africa’s most strategic U.S.-backed critical minerals project is now in limbo due to a foreign aid freeze under the Trump administration—creating an opening for China to expand its influence. At the center of the crisis is the Lobito Corridor railway project, a key infrastructure initiative designed to transport copper and cobalt from the Central African Copperbelt—home to some of the world’s richest deposits—to the Angolan coast
Author: Constance Makungu
Rising Port Charges Push Importers Away from Nigeria
Importers are increasingly diverting goods to neighboring West African countries to avoid soaring port charges in Nigeria. Over the past month, multiple government agencies, terminal operators, and shipping companies have raised their fees by nearly 100%, making cargo clearance unaffordable for many businesses. Lagos port, Nigeria’s busiest, has been particularly affected, with a sharp decline in activity, threatening the country’s ease of doing business agenda. According to The Guardian Nigeria,
Zambia’s Lobito Corridor Project Key to Economic Growth and EV Battery Hub Development
Zambia’s Minister of Transport and Logistics, Hon. Frank Tayali, has underscored the Lobito Corridor Project as a transformative initiative that will position Zambia as a leading hub for electric vehicle (EV) battery production and assembly. Speaking at the Lobito Corridor Stakeholder Discussion during the recent Mining Indaba in South Africa, Hon. Tayali reaffirmed the government’s commitment to leveraging the project’s benefits through regulatory reforms in the EV industry. The Lobito
Zambia Secures $300 Million DP World Investment to Boost Trade and Infrastructure
Zambia has reaffirmed its position as a rising global player and regional transport hub with a proposed $300 million investment from DP World, a leading multinational logistics company. The initiative, structured as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with Zamcargo Limited, a subsidiary of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), aims to enhance trade infrastructure and economic opportunities. Following a meeting at State House between President Hakainde Hichilema and DP World Executive Vice
SADC Member States Address Kasumbalesa Border Issues for Improved Regional Trade
From February 4-7, representatives from Southern African Development Community (SADC) Member States convened in Harare to address the persistent challenges at the Kasumbalesa Border Post, a vital trade hub between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The meeting, organized by the SADC Secretariat and supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), aimed to find lasting solutions to congestion, trade facilitation delays, infrastructure shortcomings,
Angola Inaugurates Barra do Dande Ocean Terminal’s First Phase
Angolan President João Lourenço has inaugurated the first phase of the Barra do Dande Ocean Terminal, a major development in the country’s oil and gas logistics infrastructure. The terminal will bolster Angola’s energy trade and enhance national oil company Sonangol’s fuel storage capacity. The terminal features 29 storage tanks with a combined capacity of 580,000 cubic meters for gasoline, diesel, and gas. A 1,700-meter jetty allows the facility to accommodate
Tanzania and Burundi Sign $2.15 Billion Railway Deal to Boost Regional Connectivity
On January 29, 2025, Tanzania and Burundi signed an agreement to construct a 282-kilometer Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) linking Uvinza in Tanzania to Musongati in Burundi. The $2.15 billion project, awarded to China Railway Engineering Group Co. Ltd (CREGC) and China Railway Engineering Design and Consulting Group Co. Ltd (CREDC), is set for completion within 72 months. The signing ceremony took place at the John Pombe Magufuli SGR station in
AD Ports Group Launches $250M Investment to Modernize Luanda Terminal and Logistics Hub
AD Ports Group (ADX: ADPORTS), a global leader in trade, logistics, and industry, has officially commenced the long-term management and development of a major multipurpose terminal and logistics business in Luanda, Angola. In partnership with Angolan firms Unicargas and Multiparques, the initiative aims to modernize port operations and strengthen regional trade networks. The Noatum Ports Luanda Terminal, Angola’s largest port, handles 76% of the country’s container and general cargo, serving
TAAG Angola Airlines Receives First Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, Advancing Fleet Modernization
TAAG Angola Airlines has welcomed its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, marking a key milestone in its ongoing fleet renewal strategy. Leased from AerCap, this aircraft is the first of four Dreamliners ordered by TAAG, reinforcing the airline’s commitment to expanding its long-haul operations and enhancing passenger experience. The new Dreamliner arrived in Luanda just ahead of Angola’s Liberation Day on February 4, featuring TAAG’s updated livery and symbolizing nearly 50
Eiffage Secures €100 Million Contract to Expand DRC’s Port of Matadi
French civil engineering firm Eiffage has been awarded a contract to renovate and expand the container terminal at the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) Port of Matadi. The contract, valued at over €100 million, was secured through Eiffage’s subsidiary, Eiffage Génie Civil Marine. Located 150km upstream from the mouth of the Congo River, the Port of Matadi is the DRC’s primary port, handling 90% of the country’s container imports,