$214M Road Project Links 3 African Nations, 1.5M People

A game-changing road network is coming to East Africa, and it's about to open up opportunities for over 1.5 million people who've long struggled with poor connections to markets and ports.

The African Development Bank just approved $214.5 million for Phase II of a transport corridor linking Ethiopia, Djibouti, and South Sudan. Ethiopia gets the lion's share at $181.5 million, with Djibouti receiving $29.7 million and South Sudan $2 million.

The money will fund a 67-kilometer expressway in Ethiopia, upgrade 18 kilometers of road in Djibouti, and plan improvements for a 280-kilometer stretch in South Sudan. Smaller feeder roads in Ethiopia and Djibouti will also get upgrades.

For landlocked countries like Ethiopia and South Sudan, access to Djibouti's port has always been a challenge. These new roads will cut transport costs and speed up the movement of goods, making everything from food to supplies cheaper and more accessible.

Communities in Ethiopia's Oromia, Afar, and Amhara regions will see direct benefits. In South Sudan's Boma region, better roads mean farmers can finally get their products to market before they spoil. Nearly all of Djibouti's one million residents will benefit from improved connectivity.

The Ripple Effect

The project goes beyond pavement and paint. Women and youth along the corridor will get skills training, entrepreneurship support, and access to new roadside markets. Construction alone will create thousands of jobs.

Traders, farmers, and logistics companies will save time and money on every trip. Border communities that once felt isolated will become economic hubs. Local governments will receive training in road management and trade facilitation, ensuring the benefits last for generations.

This isn't the region's first rodeo with corridor development. Phase I launched in 2019 with $98 million from the same bank, proving the model works.

When roads connect people to opportunity, entire regions transform.