Burundi, Tanzania Break Ground on Landmark Railway to Boost Regional Trade

Addis Ababa, August 20, 2025 (POA) -- Burundi and Tanzania have officially launched construction of a long-awaited cross-border railway line that leaders say will transform regional trade and boost economic growth.

New railway is expected to modernize transport, strengthen trade and unlock Burundi's mining potential.

At a ceremony held over the weekend in Rutana, south-eastern Burundi, President Evariste Ndayishimiye and Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa laid a foundation stone to mark the beginning of the multi-billion-dollar project.

The railway will eventually connect Burundi and Tanzania with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), opening up new trade corridors across East and Central Africa.

President Ndayishimiye hailed the initiative as a “major lever for the realization of Burundi’s Vision 2040–2060,” emphasizing its importance in reducing the country’s heavy reliance on road transport and costly logistics.

The two countries signed the 2.15 billion USD agreement earlier this year in Dar es Salaam.

Construction will be carried out by China Railway Engineering Corporation (CREC) and China Railway Engineering Consulting Group (CEC).

The first phase, spanning 240 kilometers, will link Uvinza in western Tanzania to Gitega, Burundi’s political capital, via Musongati in Rutana Province.

Prime Minister Majaliwa described the project as “historic and unique,” noting that it is the first railway to directly connect two East African nations.

He added that the plan aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which calls for modern infrastructure networks to enhance integration and sustainable development across the continent.

The project is expected to take five years to complete, followed by an additional year of evaluation. If delivered on schedule, officials and experts believe it could mark a turning point for Burundi’s economy, lowering trade costs, boosting mining exports, and opening new avenues for regional integration.