The governments of Burundi and Tanzania have signed a contract for the construction of a railway line that will connect the two East African nations, extending further into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The signing ceremony took place in the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam, and was attended by the Burundian minister in charge of infrastructure and the Tanzanian minister in chargeof transport.
The railway project, which will be constructed by the China Railway Engineering Corporation (CREC) and the China Railway Engineering Consulting Group (CEC), is expected to cost $2.154 billion. It aims to enhance trade and transportation efficiency in the region.
The railway will span 240 kilometers in its first phase, linking Uvinza in Tanzania to Gitega, the political capital of Burundi, via Musongati in the province of Rutana. The full project consists of two sections: the Uvinza-Malagarazi stretch (180 km) and the Malagarazi-Musongati stretch (102 km). The line is expected to significantly reduce transportation costs and improve logistics, benefiting Burundi’s trade sector, which heavily relies on imports and exports through Tanzania’s port of Dar es Salaam.
Burundi’s Minister of Infrastructure and Social Housing confirmed the signing in a post on X (formerly Twitter), saying: “The CREC/CEC Consortium from China won the tender to build the Uvinza-Musongati Railway. The contract has been signed today, January 29, 2025, in Dar es Salaam, in the presence of Burundi and Tanzania Ministers in charge.”
The new railway line is expected to help Burundi save approximately $70 million annually, which the country previously spent on importing goods via costly road transport. By improving rail connectivity, the project will provide a more efficient means for transporting goods and passengers across borders, enhancing regional integration and economic cooperation.
Tanzanian Transport Minister Makame Mbarawa urged the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) to ensure that construction adheres to international standards, project funds are efficiently managed, and overall quality is maintained.
According to the statement by the Burundian Ministry of Infrastructure earlier in 2024, the railway is expected to be completed by 2040, aligning with broader regional development goals. The agreement follows the official visit of Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye to Dar es Salaam, where he participated in the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit. The summit, held on January 27-28, focused on expanding electricity access to 300 million people across Africa by 2030 and included discussions on regional integration and infrastructure projects.
During the summit, President Ndayishimiye met with his Tanzanian counterpart, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, to discuss regional economic cooperation, with a particular focus on the Tanzania-Burundi-DRC railway project, according to the office of the Burundian president.
The railway’s development is set to revolutionize Burundi’s trade and logistics landscape. Currently, over 95% of Burundi’s imports and exports pass through Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam port. The new railway will provide a direct and cost-effective transport alternative, easing the movement of goods and passengers while strengthening economic ties between the two countries and the broader East African region.
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