Tanzania Commits to Guarantee Sea Access for Landlocked Neighbours

Addis Ababa, August 10, 2025 (FMC) – Tanzania has reaffirmed its commitment to providing uninterrupted sea access to landlocked neighbouring countries through the Port of Dar es Salaam, underscoring its role in advancing regional connectivity and trade facilitation.

In his recent speech at the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in Awaza, Turkmenistan, Tanzania’s Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Prof. Godius Kahyarara, said the government is removing operational bottlenecks to ensure efficient cargo handling for partner states.

He noted that the Standard Gauge Railway network and one-stop border posts are being expanded to speed up the movement of goods to and from the port, benefiting countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to the Permanent Secretary, these measures are in line with Tanzania’s obligations under regional and international frameworks to facilitate transit trade for landlocked states.

The United Nations lists 32 landlocked developing countries worldwide, 16 of which are in Africa, facing high transport costs and limited market access due to their geographical position.