Africa-Press – Tanzania. In an era where Africa seeks to unlock its full potential, few relationships better illustrate the power of regional cooperation than that between Tanzania and Burundi. Once defined primarily by shared history and border proximity, our partnership has evolved into a strategic alliance driving industrial growth, trade integration, and inclusive development.
At the heart of this transformation is a bold, shared vision—rooted in practical collaboration and a belief that our nations are stronger.
A landmark example is the $2.15 billion Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project signed earlier this year. Once completed, the 282-kilometre line connecting Uvinza in Tanzania to Musongati in Burundi will open a critical trade gateway to the Indian Ocean. It is expected to lower transport costs, expand market access, and boost industrialisation in both countries and beyond.
But infrastructure is not just about tracks and ports, but about transformation. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has rightly described such projects as pillars of regional competitiveness, food security, and economic resilience.
On its part, Tanzania is investing heavily in the Central Corridor, a key artery in the continent’s logistics network. The corridor aligns with the broader goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and Tanzania views it as essential to reducing trade costs and unlocking Africa’s single market. Central to this vision is Lake Tanganyika, a natural transport corridor linking parts of eastern DRC to global markets.
Despite abundant minerals, timber, and agricultural resources on the DRC side, trade flows remain imbalanced, with imports far exceeding exports. Addressing this mismatch ensures that regional integration is inclusive and equitable.
We are also seeing encouraging signs of deeper private sector engagement. The inauguration of a state-of-the-art fertiliser plant in Tanzania, owned by Burundian firm ITRACOM, is a powerful symbol of this progress. Once fully operational, the facility will employ over 3,000 people and dramatically reduce dependence on imported fertiliser—an issue that affects food security across the continent.
Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye, who attended the opening ceremony, aptly captured the moment: “Burundians are no longer just coming to Tanzania as refugees; we are coming as investors.” His words reflect a larger shift in how we define our regional identity—not by crisis, but by opportunity.
Such cross-border partnerships enhance Tanzania’s fertiliser subsidy programme, broader agricultural transformation agenda, and growing industrial base. This is what modern Pan-Africanism looks like—rooted in mutual benefit, shared ownership, and practical outcomes.
Yet our challenges are real and urgent. Lake Tanganyika has risen by 2.5 meters in recent years, the highest level in half a century, displacing communities and threatening infrastructure. Climate change, food insecurity, and cross-border security risks do not respect national boundaries. They require joint action.
Tanzania and Burundi collaborate closely on environmental resilience, countering terrorism and trafficking, and strengthening public institutions. Tanzanian experts are helping train Burundian civil servants, and discussions are underway to launch joint agricultural ventures using fertile Tanzanian land.
Unity, however, is not built by policy alone. It is grounded in shared values, cultural exchange, and human connection. I want to take this opportunity to invite Burundians and friends of both nations to participate in the Mount Kilimanjaro Challenge this December. Africa’s highest peak is more than a natural wonder—it is a metaphor for the climb we must take together.
As we rise, we do so not in isolation, but in partnership. The future of our region—and indeed our continent—depends on our ability to invest in each other, trust each other, and move forward together. That is the spirit of Burundi–Tanzania cooperation. That is the path to Africa’s ascent.
Ambassador Gelasius Byakanwa represents the United Republic of Tanzania in the Republic of Burundi.
For More News And Analysis About Tanzania Follow Africa-Press
