A landmark agreement has been signed between Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo to revitalize, modernize, and expand the Dilolo-Sakania railway line over the next three decades.

Under the terms of the concession, the infrastructure will remain state-owned, while the DRC government will retain at least 10% equity in the project company. Upon expiry of the 30-year term, full ownership of the infrastructure will revert to the Congolese state.

The concessionaire will bear full responsibility for financing and traffic-related risks, with no sovereign guarantees or operational subsidies provided by the DRC. President Félix Tshisekedi highlighted the project’s anticipated economic benefits, including job creation, youth training, local enterprise engagement, and technology transfer.

The revitalized corridor is expected to facilitate the transport of minerals, agricultural products, industrial inputs, hydrocarbons, containers, consumer goods, and passengers.

Both nations have also committed to aligning their railway operations, tariffs, and customs procedures to streamline cross-border trade.

With an estimated investment of $1.2 billion, the project will be complemented by transboundary road networks, logistics hubs, and energy infrastructure. Additionally, Angola and the DRC aim to strengthen hydrocarbon cooperation and accelerate regional electricity interconnection, particularly to power the Katanga region.