Angola's Lobito Corridor: From reconstruction to development

Abstract

This brief reviews the state of the transport corridor which runs from the port of Lobito and the city of Benguela through the hinterland of Angola before it connects with the mineral rich regions in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia. The once important Benguela railway was destroyed during the war and has not been in use since 1975. With Chinese assistance the railway has now been rebuilt from Lobito to the border with Congo. Minerals are yet to be transported to the port, but the corridor is already having an impact on the lives of the communities living along the corridor and is contributing to social and economic transformation.