Kinshasa, August 26, 2026 (TOP243NEWS).- The President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, received his Angolan counterpart, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, on Wednesday at the Cité de l’Union africaine. The Angolan President had arrived in Kinshasa earlier that morning, accompanied by First Lady Ana Afonso Dias Lourenço, for a working visit.
Following an expanded one-on-one meeting with their respective delegations, the two Heads of State discussed bilateral cooperation, the security situation in the region, as well as several joint projects, particularly in the hydrocarbons and electricity sectors.
The two leaders then witnessed the signing of a railway concession agreement covering the Dilolo–Sakania section, together with the related cooperation agreement, within the framework of the Lobito Corridor, between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mota-Engil.
Stretching more than 1,000 kilometres, the railway infrastructure is expected to help modernise the connection between the main mining hubs of Haut-Katanga and Lualaba provinces and the Angolan port of Lobito on the Atlantic Ocean. The project is valued at US$1.258 billion.
Under the announced terms, the DRC will hold a 10% stake and receive a royalty equivalent to 7.5% of gross revenue. Meanwhile, the National Railway Company of the Congo (SNCC) will retain exclusive rights over passenger transport, as well as its rights regarding freight.
At the end of the concession, all renovated infrastructure will be transferred to the Congolese State.
During the joint press briefing, Félix Tshisekedi stressed the strategic economic importance of the Lobito Corridor, saying it should not be limited to the evacuation of raw materials.
“Our ambition is not to build a mere corridor for the evacuation of raw materials. We want to build a corridor for production, processing and value creation,” the Congolese Head of State said.
Addressing operational challenges linked to the border between Dilolo, in the DRC, and Luau, in Angola, Félix Tshisekedi urged technical teams to regard the signing of these agreements as the beginning of a demanding process.
“The signing that took place today is not an end in itself. It marks the beginning of a shared responsibility,” he warned.
The Angolan President’s working visit to Kinshasa thus comes against a backdrop of strengthening relations between the DRC and Angola, with the Lobito Corridor presented as one of the main drivers of economic integration and increased trade between the two countries.
Mike Pakoto | TOP243NEWS