Burundi has made a bold step on its historic first railway line, with President Evariste Ndayishimiye officially laying the foundation stone on Saturday.
The landmark ceremony in Musongati was graced by Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, indicating the start of the ambitious project.
The 282 kilometer line will connect landlocked Burundi to Tanzania’s key Port of Dar es Salaam, opening new trade opportunities.
Once completed, the railway will serve as an important part of the Central Corridor, a major trade road for inland economies.
Flory Okendju, an executive of the Central Corridor, noted that the railway will revolutionize regional transport and cut down on costly delays.
The massive project, projected to take about six years, is set to eventually extend further into eastern DR Congo, reaching Uvira and Kindu.
