Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Angolan President Joao Lourenco have announced a plan to connect the Benguela and TAZARA railways, creating a continuous east-west corridor from Lobito to Dar es Salaam. This project aims to integrate Angola's Benguela Railway with the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority network. The new railway will pass through the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, providing regional cargo operators access to two major ocean gateways.
The agreement was made on October 30, 2026, during a meeting between President Hassan and President Lourenco, who was on a state visit to Tanzania. The project is still in the planning stage, with no construction start date or detailed financing package disclosed. The precise alignment of the missing railway segment is yet to be defined. This initiative builds on ongoing upgrades to existing corridors, including modernization of the Benguela Railway and rehabilitation of TAZARA.
The new east-west link could facilitate mineral exports from the copper-rich DRC and Zambia, as well as broaden market access for agricultural and manufactured goods across Central and Southern Africa. The project has the potential to reduce reliance on existing single-port export routes. Stakeholders anticipate significant benefits from the new railway, but realizing these benefits will depend on finalizing infrastructure standards, financing responsibilities, border procedures, and railway management arrangements.
The Lobito Corridor, which includes the Benguela Railway, is being upgraded with support from the US and EU. The TAZARA rehabilitation is backed by a $1.4 billion China-backed program. These ongoing upgrades aim to improve the efficiency and capacity of the existing corridors. The new railway will build on these improvements, creating a seamless and efficient transportation network across the region.
The next major step identified by the governments is to translate the bilateral commitment into a detailed regional infrastructure program that includes Angola, Tanzania, Zambia, and the DRC. This program will need to address key issues such as infrastructure standards, financing responsibilities, and border procedures. The four participating countries will need to work together to finalize these details and move the project forward.
The proposed railway will have a significant impact on regional trade and economic development. By providing access to two major ocean gateways, the new railway will increase trade opportunities and reduce transportation costs. This, in turn, is expected to boost economic growth and development in the region. The project has the potential to transform the economic landscape of Central and Southern Africa.
The agreement between Tanzania and Angola marks a significant step towards realizing the vision of a seamless and efficient transportation network across the region. The project has the potential to unlock significant economic benefits and improve the lives of millions of people. As the project moves forward, it will be important for the participating countries to work together to address the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Key points
- The new railway will link the Atlantic port of Lobito in Angola with the Indian Ocean port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.
- The project aims to integrate Angola's Benguela Railway with the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority network.
- The new east-west link could facilitate mineral exports from the copper-rich DRC and Zambia.
