Burundi Moves to Accelerate Uvinza–Musongati Railway

Tanzanian and Burundian officials are pushing ahead with the long‑awaited Uvinza–Musongati standard‑gauge railway (SGR), a 282 km cross‑border link designed to connect Burundi’s mineral‑rich Musongati region to Tanzania’s rail network and the port of Dar es Salaam.

The SGR contract, signed in early 2025, is worth about US $2.154 billion and stipulates a 72‑month implementation period including a 12‑month observation phase which places completion around 2030. TRC (Tanzania Railways Corporation) is managing the project on behalf of both governments and has contracted a consortium of China Railway Group and China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group to build the line. Seven stations and a cargo terminal are planned along the route.

In late February 2026 a Burundian delegation led by Infrastructure Minister Damien Niyonkuru travelled to Dar es Salaam for a five‑day working mission aimed at accelerating the project. During talks with TRC, the delegation reviewed the implementation calendar, identified administrative hurdles and discussed a request from the Chinese consortium for tax exemptions.

Burundian officials stressed that any exemptions must follow bilateral procedures and reaffirmed that Burundi would honour its financial commitment, which has already been partially met. The team also visited the John Pombe Magufuli SGR terminal an example of Tanzania’s modern rail infrastructure to underscore their desire to integrate Burundi more closely into regional logistics networks.

Niyonkuru described the railway as more than an infrastructure project: it is expected to unlock access to markets for Musongati’s nickel and other minerals, reduce transport costs and create jobs. The minister said technical meetings with Tanzanian counterparts covered financing, infrastructure standards and harmonising rail systems so that construction can begin without delay.

Remaining tasks include securing final tax exemptions, agreeing on administrative procedures and mobilising the remaining funding. If the timelines agreed in the 2025 contract hold, the partners hope to see progress within the six‑year implementation window. The Uvinza–Musongati line is therefore emerging as a symbol of the Central Corridor’s ambitions and a practical step toward deeper East African economic integration.