Tanzania and Angola said they will pursue a major cross‑border railway that would connect the Atlantic coast of Angola with the Indian Ocean coast of Tanzania, passing through the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.

The plan was disclosed on 30 October 2026 by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan during a meeting with Angolan President Joao Lourenco, who was on a state visit to Tanzania.

The proposed corridor would join Angola’s Benguela Railway – a key component of the Lobito Corridor – with the Tanzania‑Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) network that links Zambia to the port of Dar es Salaam.

When completed, the line would create a continuous rail route between the Atlantic port of Lobito and the Indian Ocean port of Dar es Salaam, giving cargo operators access to two major seaports.

The initiative is intended to strengthen regional trade, provide an alternative logistics route for landlocked Central and Southern African countries, and reduce reliance on existing single‑port export pathways.

Both governments stressed that the project remains at the planning stage; no construction start date, financing package or detailed alignment for the missing railway sections has been announced.

The proposal builds on ongoing upgrades: Angola is modernising the Benguela Railway, while Tanzania and Zambia are pursuing rehabilitation of TAZARA, supported by a US$1.4 billion China‑backed programme signed in 2025.

Stakeholders note that successful implementation will require agreement on technical standards, financing responsibilities, border procedures and railway management among Tanzania, Angola, Zambia and the DRC.