The Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania have committed to modernising multimodal connectivity along the Central Corridor, with phased rail interconnection among the projects named.
The commitment followed a one-to-one meeting between President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo and President Samia Suluhu Hassan at State House, Kizimkazi, in Zanzibar on 18 August 2026, at the close of Tshisekedi's third official visit to Tanzania.
The two countries identified the ports of Dar es Salaam, Kigoma and Kalemie as the connectivity to be modernised. Alongside phased rail interconnection, the projects named cover improved road links and lake transport. Kigoma and Kalemie face each other across Lake Tanganyika.
The presidents also agreed to revive the Joint Permanent Commission, to create a strategic partnership on critical minerals and geological data exchange, and to evaluate joint oil and gas projects. They welcomed progress on the cross-border fibre optic link between Kigoma and Kalemie.
No route, gauge, cost, financier or timetable was given for the rail interconnection, and the statement did not say which sections it would cover.
Tanzania restated its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC, and both presidents called for respect for United Nations resolutions, an immediate cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of foreign forces from Congolese territory, backing the Washington and Doha peace processes.
