On August 16 local time, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Tanzania–Burundi cross-border standard gauge railway project (known as the Tanzania–Burundi Railway Project), contracted by a consortium led by CREC, was held in Musongati, a major mining hub in central Burundi. Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye and Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa jointly attended the ceremony and unveiled the project. Nearly 20,000 guests, including representatives from the transport and finance ministries of both countries, the Tanzania Railways Corporation, the CREC consortium, media, and local communities, participated in the event.
In his speech, President Ndayishimiye said: “The launch of the Tanzania–Burundi Railway Project is of decisive and historic significance for Burundi, particularly in advancing the realization of the country’s 2040 and 2060 development visions.”
Prime Minister Majaliwa stated: “As long as African nations remain united, the development of the entire African continent is within reach.”
The Tanzania–Burundi Railway Project is located in northeastern Tanzania and southern Burundi, with a total length of about 240 kilometers. It starts from Uvinza Station on Tanzania’s central railway line, passes through Kigoma Region in Tanzania and Rutana Province in Burundi, and ends at the Musongati mining area in Burundi. Scheduled for completion and operation around 2030, the project will significantly reduce regional transportation costs, stimulate bilateral and regional trade, and comprehensively promote the development of mineral resources, agricultural trade, cross-border investment, and tourism.
