Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have agreed to allocate land for developing dry ports in both countries. The deal, finalized during bilateral meetings in Lubumbashi from April 3 to 5, 2025, involves exchanging land titles for areas in Kasumbalesa and Kasenga in the DRC, and Kwala and Katosho in Tanzania. Each country will provide 60 hectares of land.
This initiative is part of the Transport Infrastructure Development Program, launched in 2022 under the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA), to enhance trade and connectivity between the two nations. Various Tanzanian media outlets indicated that the dry ports should be delivered within 18 months through public-private partnerships (PPPs). The finalization of title deeds "paves the way for the development of these strategic logistics infrastructures ", says the agency.
Fostering Regional Transit Efficiency
The need for these dry ports is pressing due to a significant increase in freight traffic from the port of Dar es Salaam to the DRC. According to the Permanent Secretary of the Tanzanian Ministry of Transport, Godius Kahyarara, freight traffic to the DRC surged 180% from 14 to 28 million tonnes over the past four years. This surge underscores the urgency of relieving congestion in Dar es Salaam and improving regional transit efficiency for landlocked countries like the DRC and Burundi.
Other ongoing projects reviewed during the recent meeting include the construction of the Kalemie port, rehabilitation of the Kalemie-Nyunzu-Manono road, and investments in railroad lines.
The air sector is also seeing developments, with Kalemie and Goma in the DRC, and Mwanza and Dodoma in Tanzania, designated as new entry points for passengers and goods. Furthermore, Air Tanzania plans to launch direct flights between Dar es Salaam and Kinshasa this month, further enhancing connectivity between the two nations.
This article was initially published in French by Pierre Mukoko (Ecofin Agency)
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
