Kenya and Somalia have agreed upon to expedite the plan to expand the road connecting Isiolo and Mandera, which is being routed through Somalia to create a new trade, transport, and security corridor connecting the countries of the Horn of Africa.
This matter came to light following a meeting held in Nairobi between Somalia’s ambassador to Kenya, Jibril Abdulle and Permanent Secretary of Kenya’s Ministry of Roads, Joseph Mbugua.
The two sides have concurred in the establishment of a joint technical committee that will accelerate the talks regarding the incorporation of Somalia into the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project (HoAGDP), which is funded by the World Bank.
Meanwhile, Somalia and Kenya concurred to hold a high-level meeting between the two countries through which the project implementation plan is being advanced.
Somalia’s ambassador to Kenya, Mr. Jibril Abdullahi has welcomed Somalia’s participation in this project, stating that it will bolster connectivity between the two countries.
He said, “This project will facilitate cross-border trade, improve fiber-optic connectivity in the region, and unlock numerous economic opportunities for the benefit of the people of both countries.”
This plan attaches greater importance to the Isiolo-Mandera road before, although the project has been underway in northeastern Kenya for years, security and implementation challenges have delayed some sections.
In 2020, the World Bank approved 750 million dollars in funding for the HoAGDP project, which focuses on a 740km-long road connecting Isiolo-Mandera.
The project was initially planned to upgrade 365 km of the road and 30 km connecting roads, while also incorporating fiber-optic infrastructure, border facilities, and systems to facilitate border administration and trade.
Security is one of the major challenges facing the project, particularly in the northeastern regions of Kenya.
The Kenyan government has stated that security measures have been stepped up to protect workers and construction activities.’
The World Bank has also described the areas through which the project passes as prone to vulnerability and conflict, posing a risk to workers and construction operations.
