Kenya and Somalia have agreed to accelerate plans to extend the Isiolo-Mandera road, which will be extended through Somalia, to create a new trade, communication and security corridor connecting the Horn of Africa countries.
This came after a meeting in Nairobi between the Somali Ambassador to Kenya, Jabril Cabdulle, and the Permanent Secretary of the Kenyan Ministry of Roads, Joseph Mbugua.
The two sides agreed to establish a joint technical committee to expedite discussions on Somalia’s inclusion in the World Bank-funded Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project (HoAGDP).
Somalia and Kenya also agreed to hold a high-level meeting between the two countries to further advance the implementation plan for the project.
Ambassador Jabril Cabdulle welcomed Somalia’s inclusion in the project, saying it would strengthen connectivity between the two countries.
“This project will facilitate cross-border trade, improve regional fiber-optic connectivity, and open up many economic opportunities that will benefit both communities,” he said.
The plan gives greater importance to the Isiolo-Mandera road, which has been underway in northeastern Kenya for years, but has been delayed in some parts by security and implementation challenges.
The World Bank in 2020 approved a $750 million loan for the HoAGDP project, which focuses on a 740km road connecting Isiolo and Mandera.
The project was originally planned to upgrade 365km of the road and 30km of other connecting roads, while also adding fiber-optic infrastructure, border checkpoints, and systems to facilitate border management and trade.
Security is one of the biggest challenges facing the project, especially in northeastern Kenya. The Kenyan government said security measures have been stepped up to protect workers and construction activities.
The World Bank has also described the areas where the project will pass as vulnerable and conflict-ridden, posing a threat to workers, infrastructure and construction activities.
