The two nations will speed up a Standard Gauge Railway link and a fibre-optic cable across Lake Tanganyika to boost regional connectivity and trade.
Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo have agreed to fast-track joint infrastructure projects, including a Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) link and a national fibre-optic cable across Lake Tanganyika. The commitment was reaffirmed by Tanzania's Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Dr Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, during a meeting with DRC’s Ambassador to Tanzania Jean Pierre Massala in Dar es Salaam.
The SGR connection, planned to pass through Burundi, aims to strengthen regional connectivity and trade between Tanzania and the DRC. Concurrently, a fibre-optic cable will be laid from Kigoma in Tanzania to Kalemie in the DRC's Tanganyika Province via Lake Tanganyika, intending to improve digital communication between the two countries. Both nations also agreed to accelerate the establishment of a Joint Economic Commission.
Minister Kombo stated Tanzania's commitment to deepening cooperation with the DRC in various sectors, including transport, mining, oil and gas, and defence. He commended Ambassador Massala for his contributions to bilateral relations, particularly in development, trade, and investment. Ambassador Massala thanked the Tanzanian government for its cooperation during his tenure and emphasized the importance of sustained strategic development cooperation.
Why it mattersCitizens of Tanzania and the DRC will benefit from improved regional connectivity, trade, and digital communication through these accelerated infrastructure projects.
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