Tanzania and Angola reach agreement to connect rail corridors
The move brings together multibillion-dollar infrastructure backed by Western governments and China.
Tanzania and Angola have reached an agreement to connect their railway systems, creating a coast-to-coast network stretching from Angola's Atlantic coast to Tanzania's Indian Ocean coast. This connection would pass through Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, both of which are rich in copper and cobalt — minerals crucial for economic security in the face of the global energy transition.
The agreement, announced by Tanzania's president, involves infrastructure projects backed by Western governments and China, highlighting the multibillion-dollar investments in the region. This development complicates the geopolitical narrative around the Lobito Corridor and TAZARA, two rival railways previously serving different purposes.
By connecting these corridors, developing countries may demonstrate a resistance to aligning with either Western or Chinese interests, potentially influencing the geopolitical dynamics in Africa. The plan was recently approved, with the Africa Finance Corporation selecting contractors for sections of the new railway connecting Zambia to Angola.
Written by urgent.news from Semafor's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
