by Carlos Kpodiefin
The 7th African Union (AU) – European Union (EU) Summit held in Luanda, Angola, on 24–25 November 2025 served as a platform for a major announcement regarding infrastructure in Central and Southern Africa. Egypt clearly expressed its strategic interest in investing in the vital Lobito Corridor project, sending a strong signal of South–South cooperation in the transport sector.
Egyptian Expertise Supporting a Continental Megaproject
During a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Summit, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly informed Angolan President João Lourenço of the willingness of Egyptian companies to invest in this logistics axis.
This announcement highlights Egypt’s position—traditionally very active in major national and regional construction projects—as a potential key player in financing and implementing this transcontinental corridor.
The Lobito Corridor: A Logistics Game Changer
The Lobito Corridor is far more than a simple railway line. It is intended to become Africa’s first integrated transcontinental link, connecting the port of Lobito on Angola’s Atlantic coast to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia.
Its impact on regional logistics is expected to be significant. The project aims to reduce cargo transit time from nearly a month to just one week for minerals and other goods transported to global markets, thereby greatly improving the export of strategic resources from Central and Southern Africa.
Beyond Rail: Strengthened Bilateral Cooperation
Egypt’s ambitions extend beyond land infrastructure. Mr. Madbouly also reported ongoing discussions to strengthen trade and bilateral investment between the two nations:
• Egypt seeks to accelerate the implementation of already-signed memorandums of understanding.
• Negotiations are underway to establish direct air links between Egypt and Angola, a key factor in facilitating trade and attracting investment.
These developments are expected to be finalized during the next session of the Egypt–Angola Joint Committee, scheduled for 4–5 December 2025 in Luanda. President Lourenço, for his part, expressed his desire to see this cooperation expand “in all directions.”
Egypt’s potential involvement in the Lobito Corridor is excellent news for African integration. It brings not only capital and recognized expertise—especially from major national projects such as the Suez Canal developments and Greater Cairo—but also anchors the project within a South–South cooperation framework, reducing reliance on Western or Asian financing. This corridor represents a decisive test of Africa’s ability to build its own vital logistical arteries.
