DODOMA, Tanzania
Burundi and Tanzania are scheduled to jointly seek financing for construction of a standard gauge railway (SGR) line linking the two countries.
According
to details, the two countries on Sunday inked a deal worth U$900 million to
construct a 282-kilometre railway connecting from Tanzanian town of Uvinza to
Burundi’s capital Gitega.
This
ambitious memorandum of understanding was signed by Finance and transport
ministers from the two countries in the western Tanzanian town of Kigoma.
Tanzania
Finance Minister Mwigulu Nchemba said the two governments will jointly seek
financing for the railway. He hinted that the final cost “will likely not
exceed $900 million.” He didn’t provide details on the source of financing.
From
early 2013 Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania had expressed joint interest in building
an interstate railway line linking the three countries. However, the
intermittent politics of the region completely changed their plans.
For
example Kenya was already building a SGR line and was expected to reach the
Ugandan border from which Uganda would do its part linking up to Rwanda border.
Kampala
decided to fund construction of the Tororo-Gulu Pakwach line first because of
the big economic interests the country has in South Sudan. This technically
placed Rwanda in a long waiting mode.
“Uganda
wants to consider South Sudan because it is a bigger market, and this will
definitely delay the Uganda-Rwanda line,” a Rwanda government official said
then in 2015.
In
August 2013, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda signed a tripartite agreement to
fast-track the development of the SGR. Kenyan Ministry of Transport officials
had said that Uganda’s priority was on the segment from Malaba to Kampala,
followed by the northern segment from Tororo to Pakwach through Gulu because of
business interest in South Sudan.
In
2015, the politics within Burundi turned messy as hundreds of thousands fled
the country to neighbouring countries. The mess was brewed by President Pierre
Nkurunziza seeking another term in office which violated the constitution.
Relations
between Rwanda and Burundi also soured as both countries accused each other of
sabortage. four years later in 2019, Rwanda and Uganda also faced off as both
accused each other of supporting enemies.
Rwanda
shut down its border with Uganda and both countries have failed to reach a
mediated agreement to cool off their anger. This shaky political situation has
affected the construction of standard gauge railway (SGR) as previously
planned.
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