Tanzania and Maniema Province Deepen Cooperation on Strategic Transport Infrastructure and Trade Development
Rehabilitation of the Kindu–Kalemie Railway forms part of a broader effort to improve Maniema Province’s access to regional transport networks and strengthen its connection with Tanzania through the Central Corridor.
The programme brings rail, inland waterways, port and aviation infrastructure into the same connectivity strategy, with the Port of Dar es Salaam providing an important international trade gateway for the DRC hinterland.
Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Maniema Province have reaffirmed the need to accelerate the rehabilitation of the Kindu–Kalemie Railway as part of wider transport infrastructure cooperation between the two countries.
The railway was among the strategic transport projects discussed during a technical mission by the United Republic of Tanzania to Kindu, Maniema Province, from 3 to 6 August 2026. The mission was coordinated by the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA) under the Transport Infrastructure Development Programme for Strengthening Trade between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the United Republic of Tanzania.
The delegation included representatives from Tanzania’s Ministry of Transport, Tanzania Ports Authority, Tanzania Railways Corporation, Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation, Air Tanzania Company Limited, the Tanzanian Embassy in the DRC, the DRC Embassy in Tanzania, the private sector and the CCTTFA Secretariat.
The visit followed resolutions adopted during the Tanzania–DRC Steering Committee Meeting held in Kigoma in March 2026, covering cooperation in transport infrastructure, logistics, aviation, railways, inland waterways and private-sector development.
During the mission, the delegation carried out technical inspections of Kindu National Airport, Kindu Railway Station and Kindu Inland River Port to assess their operational status and identify priority investments required to strengthen multimodal connectivity between Maniema Province and Tanzania through the Central Corridor.
The mission reaffirmed the need for the two governments to accelerate implementation of strategic transport infrastructure projects, including rehabilitation of the Kindu–Kalemie Railway, modernisation of Kindu Port, upgrading of Kindu National Airport and strengthening multimodal transport connectivity between Maniema Province and the Port of Dar es Salaam through the Central Corridor.
CCTTFA and the Government of Maniema Province also signed a Memorandum of Understanding for an inland waterways transport project involving the construction of a 500-tonne river freight barge and a 700-horsepower push boat to improve connectivity between Kindu and Ubundu.
The transport initiatives are intended to reduce logistics costs, improve regional connectivity, facilitate trade and attract investment between the DRC and Tanzania.
