• DR Congo signed a ministerial declaration on Dec. 19, 2025, to extend the Nacala rail corridor toward its borders.
• The project targets an integrated rail network of about 2,400 kilometers linking Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, and potentially southern DR Congo.
• The initiative aims to cut transport costs, shorten transit times, and boost regional trade competitiveness.

The Democratic Republic of Congo signed a ministerial declaration on Dec. 19, 2025, with Mozambique, Malawi, and Zambia to extend the Nacala railway corridor toward Congolese borders. The extension would give DR Congo rail access to the Indian Ocean through Mozambique’s port of Nacala.

The project plans to create an integrated rail network of about 2,400 kilometers linking Chipata in eastern Zambia to Malawi and Mozambique. The plan also includes a potential extension into southern DR Congo.

Transport and infrastructure ministers from the four countries said the corridor will reduce transport costs, shorten transit times, and strengthen export competitiveness. They also said the project should stimulate industrial growth, improve food security, and consolidate regional value chains.

The ministerial declaration confirms the commitment of the signatory countries to mobilize joint financing and attract strategic partners. It also provides for the harmonization of policies, technical standards, and regulatory frameworks to ensure smooth cross-border rail operations.

The governments plan to finalize an implementation framework in early 2026. The framework will define governance structures, financing models, and construction phases.

Mozambique’s Minister of Transport and Logistics João Matlombe said the next step will involve signing an agreement to appoint a strategic partner for the construction of the railway line and logistics infrastructure. He said authorities plan this step for the first quarter of 2026.

The port of Nacala, located in northern Mozambique, serves as a strategic maritime trade hub in eastern and southern Africa. The port handled 1.4 million tonnes of cargo in 2024, equivalent to 100,000 twenty-foot equivalent units. Mozambican authorities projected traffic of 1.8 million tonnes, or 115,100 TEUs, for 2025.

This article was initially published in French by Ronsard Luabeya

Afdapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum