DRC, Tanzania and Burundi Push Forward with 800 km Electrified Railway Linking Kindu to Dar es Salaam Port
The governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, and Burundi are advancing plans to develop an electrified standard-gauge railway connecting Uvinza, Musongati, Gitega, Bujumbura, Uvira, and Kindu as part of a major regional transport initiative in Central and East Africa.
On March 31, 2026, transport ministers from the three countries met in Kinshasa to review progress on feasibility studies for the railway corridor, which is expected to span more than 800 kilometres, according to the national Ministry of Transport.
The meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba.
Strategic Regional Infrastructure Project
The railway is being developed under the Central Corridor framework coordinated by the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA), which has overseen technical studies and institutional planning for the regional rail system over several years.
In March 2023, the agency announced the signing of a feasibility study and preliminary design contract for the Gitega–Bujumbura–Uvira–Kindu segment.
The contract was awarded to an international consortium comprising CPCS and Zutari, acting on behalf of Burundi and the DRC.
The proposed corridor is expected to significantly reduce transport costs, improve the movement of goods and passengers, and strengthen trade connectivity for landlocked countries in the Great Lakes Region.
It will also enhance access to the Port of Dar es Salaam, one of East Africa’s main maritime gateways.
In addition to economic benefits, the electrified railway is seen as supporting climate and energy transition goals, as rail transport produces lower greenhouse gas emissions compared with road freight.
Technical Progress on Burundi–DRC Segment
Technical studies for the Burundi–DRC section reached an important milestone in November 2025 during a steering committee meeting in Kindu, where six detailed reports were presented.
These covered key operational and engineering areas, including traffic demand forecasts, railway operations, signalling systems, telecommunications infrastructure, and energy requirements.
The studies also established a preliminary route alignment for the Congolese section. The proposed line would run from Nyamoma through Sange, Luberizi, Nyangezi, Walungu, Mwenga, Kamituga, Kalole, and Pangi before reaching Kindu. Possible extensions toward Bukavu, Uvira, and Shabunda are also under consideration.
Costs and Implementation Phases
The final construction cost for the Congolese and Burundian segments has not yet been determined and will depend on the outcome of ongoing feasibility and engineering studies.
However, the Uvinza–Musongati section, located on the Tanzanian and Burundian side of the corridor, is more advanced.
Preliminary estimates place the project cost at approximately $2.15 billion, with potential financing support expected from the African Development Bank.
Project implementation is progressing in phases. The Tanzania–Burundi segment is currently the most advanced, while the Burundi–DRC section remains in the feasibility and design stage.
The ministers’ meeting in Kinshasa reaffirmed the three governments’ commitment to advancing the railway, which is widely viewed as a strategic infrastructure project capable of transforming regional trade, logistics efficiency, and economic integration across Central and East Africa.
