A new report says a big railway project in Africa will force thousands of people to leave their homes. The project is called the Lobito Corridor. It will fix an old railway between mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo and a port in Angola.
Western governments are paying for the project. They want to transport copper and cobalt from Congo. These metals are important for making batteries for electric cars.
But a group called Global Witness studied the project. They say the railway work could destroy about 1,200 buildings in Congo. This could leave up to 6,500 people with no home. The problem is a rule that says people cannot build homes near the railway. No one followed this old rule for many years, but now the government will enforce it.
People in the town of Kolwezi are worried. Many bought their land in good faith. A local official called these people "illegals." This situation is a big problem for the project's international supporters, because they want the project to be fair and good for local communities.