• Angola and Namibia to connect Lubango to Santa Clara via 275 km railway
• Project to be developed under a public-private partnership model
• Initiative supports Angola’s logistics hub ambitions and economic diversification

Angola and Namibia are advancing plans to develop a cross-border railway network aimed at strengthening logistical connectivity and regional integration. The project forms part of Angola’s broader economic diversification strategy and its ambition to become a logistics hub in Southern Africa.

The proposed line will connect Lubango, in Angola’s Huila province, to Santa Clara on the Namibian border. Stretching approximately 275 kilometers, the project involves upgrading and extending the Moçâmedes Railway (CFM)—one of Angola’s three main rail corridors alongside Benguela and Luanda.

According to the Angolan Ministry of Transport, joint technical teams have been appointed to conduct feasibility studies, route mapping, and define technical and operational standards for the future line. Once the initial phase is completed, the project will move to a public-private partnership (PPP) phase to attract investment for construction and operation.

The initiative aligns with the regional integration objectives of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It is expected to enhance intra-African trade by improving transport of goods from southern Angola to Namibia’s port of Walvis Bay, which is recognized for its efficient logistics infrastructure.

This railway development is also tied to Angola’s national strategy to reduce reliance on oil revenues by investing in infrastructure that supports trade and transport. Authorities have placed strong focus on the Lobito corridor, currently being modernized with support from the United States and the European Union. The corridor plays a vital role in transporting critical minerals such as copper and cobalt from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia to the Atlantic coast.

A future connection with Namibia may enable integration with other SADC railway networks, helping to establish a coherent regional transport system capable of competing with other major logistics corridors across the continent.