DRC Signs $257M Railway Deal to Modernize Kisangani–Ubundu Line and Boost Regional Trade
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has taken a significant step toward revitalizing its national railway network with the signing of a $257 million concession contract on Friday, July 4, 2025.
The agreement focuses on the rehabilitation and modernization of the 115-kilometer Kisangani–Ubundu railway line in the country’s northeast.
The official signing ceremony was presided over by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Communication Channels, and Accessibility.
The event marked the formal launch of the project’s first phase, with construction set to begin within the next two weeks.
“We are pleased to sign this concession agreement. With the feasibility studies successfully completed, we are ready to move forward with implementation,” said Gabriel Madua Masudi, President of Masco Énergies.
The contract was finalized between the Congolese government and a consortium comprising South Korea’s KECC and the Congolese firm Masco Énergies. The project is financially supported by EquityBCDC Bank.
This initiative signals the start of the operational phase of a project considered vital to enhancing logistical efficiency and regional accessibility in northeastern DRC.
According to Madua Masudi, the project aligns with the government’s broader strategy to modernize transport infrastructure and promote national integration, particularly in isolated and landlocked areas.
The signing builds on a previous memorandum of understanding that also includes plans to rehabilitate the Kisangani–Ubundu and Kindu–Kalemie railway lines—two key transport corridors for the movement of goods and people in eastern Congo.
The Kisangani–Ubundu project forms part of a larger national vision to lower transportation costs, unlock agricultural and mineral-rich zones, and improve the DRC’s overall economic competitiveness.
In the long term, it may also accelerate the rehabilitation of the Kindu–Kalemie railway, which has already been earmarked in earlier agreements.
This development comes at a crucial time, as the Congolese government intensifies efforts to diversify its economic base and strengthen critical infrastructure—a foundation necessary for industrialization and regional economic integration.
