Tanzania and Burundi have launched construction of a modern standard gauge railway (SGR) that will link Uvinza in western Tanzania to Musongati in eastern Burundi, in what is set to be East Africa’s first cross-border SGR project.
The groundbreaking ceremony, held over the weekend, marked a major step in the region’s drive toward greater infrastructure connectivity and economic integration.
The 240-kilometer railway is estimated to cost more than $2.15 billion and is scheduled for completion within five years.
Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said the project will significantly cut transport times and strengthen trade ties between the two nations.
According to him, once completed, passengers will be able to travel from Musongati to Tanzania’s commercial hub Dar es Salaam in just one day.
Likewise, the time to move goods from Dar es Salaam to Bujumbura will shrink from the current 96 hours by road to just 20 hours by rail.
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Beyond efficiency, Majaliwa emphasized that the railway would unlock new investment opportunities and deepen bilateral relations.
Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye lauded the initiative as “a dream coming true,” highlighting that it will enable Burundi to better exploit its vast mineral reserves, particularly nickel.
“Many people ask how we will transport the minerals,” he said. “This railway is the answer”.
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President Ndayishimiye further outlined ambitions to extend the line to Kindu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, with the long-term vision of reaching the Atlantic coast in West Africa—effectively establishing a trans-African development corridor.
Regional analysts view the project as a transformative milestone that will not only serve as a strategic transport corridor but also accelerate East Africa’s economic integration and growth.
Image Credit: News Ghana
