Construction of $215M road linking Somalia and Ethiopia delayed over insecurity

A road in Isiolo. Insecurity has delayed the 740-kilometre road linking Kenya (from Isiolo) to Somalia and Ethiopia. File | Nation Media Group

NAIROBI, Kenya - Engineers in Kenya have delayed the implementation of a major northern corridor road that links Kenya with Ethiopia and Somalia over insecurity in the northeastern part of the country, following surging cases of Al-Shabaab raids.

The 740-kilometre road links the three countries and its completion is set to trigger massive social-economic economic activities within the region just as Somalia joined the East African Community (EAC), a major trading bloc in Africa.

Despite securing Sh27.5 billion ($215 million), from the African Development Bank (AfDB), the project has not commenced as planned in August 2023. President William Ruto was the architect behind the proposal to do the mega road.

The road, which is intended to connect Isiolo, El Wak, Mandera, and Rhamu, is expected to improve trade between the three countries. However, the ongoing insecurity has halted the progress. A report from the AfDB highlights that "the key issue for the commencement of works has been the security situation."

The road traverses the counties of Isiolo, Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera counties, linking Somalia at El-Wak and Ethiopia in Rhamu, just near River Dawaa. The region remains remote due to persistent attacks by the Al-Shabaab group.

The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) is managing the project as part of the Horn of Africa Initiative, which aims to boost economic development through regional cooperation. The initiative is expected to increase trade between Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia by 15 percent, but progress has been stalled, The Business Africa reports.

To address the situation, the AfDB noted that the Kenyan government "has put in place a security management plan for the corridor," but also acknowledged that "the security situation in the project area is fluid." This has been a significant challenge in moving forward with the project.

The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has started the establishment of the Forward Operating Bases along the common border with Somalia and this move could significantly improve the chances of the project resuming. The KDF is actively involved in the elimination of the Al-Shabaab in the region.

GAROWE ONLINE