On August 16, 2025, Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa and Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye laid the foundation stone for the construction of a Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line linking Uvinza in Kigoma, Tanzania, to Musongati in Burundi.
The cross-border project will cover 240 kilometers of main track and 60 kilometers of passing loop, with a total investment estimated at USD 2.154 billion. It will include a 190-kilometer section from Uvinza to Malagarasi in Tanzania and a further 110 kilometers from Malagarasi to Musongati in Burundi.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony in Musongati, Prime Minister Majaliwa, who represented Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, said the project is part of the two countries’ development agendas as well as the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
“This modern railway will not only ease the movement of passengers and cargo but also unlock new opportunities for investment and trade between Tanzania and Burundi,” Majaliwa noted.
The railway, which will be powered by renewable electricity, will be constructed by Chinese contractor CRCG Ltd and financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB). Completion is expected within 72 months.
Once operational, the line will connect to Tanzania’s Central Corridor SGR network through Tabora and Dodoma to Dar es Salaam, giving Burundi direct access to the port of Dar es Salaam.
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Musongati, the Burundian town where the railway will terminate, is home to vast reserves of nickel as well as gold, diamonds, copper, and iron. Authorities estimate that the line will facilitate the transport of more than three million tonnes of minerals from Burundi once it becomes operational.
President Ndayishimiye welcomed the development, noting that the railway would unlock Burundi’s mining sector, which has long been hampered by the absence of reliable transport.
“Burundi has immense mineral resources. When I met with investors from different countries, many were eager to invest in our nickel resources. But they asked me: if we start mining, how will we transport the minerals?” the president said.
Tanzania’s Minister for Transport, Professor Makame Mbarawa, emphasized that the new line would be a vital economic lifeline for both countries. It will enable Burundi to transport raw minerals from the Musongati nickel deposit via Tanzanian ports.
He added that the SGR will also reduce transport costs significantly. “Currently, moving a 20-foot container from Dar es Salaam to Burundi costs around USD 3,800. Once the railway becomes operational, the cost will fall to about USD 2,000,” Prof. Mbarawa explained.
