A high-level Ethiopian delegation, led by Minister of Transport and Logistics Alemu Sime, arrived in Djibouti to participate in the launch of the Djibouti-Ethiopia-South Sudan-Uganda (DESSU) Corridor Management Authority, a regional initiative aimed at strengthening trade, infrastructure, and economic integration.

The delegation, which includes senior officials such as State Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Berhanu Tsegaye, was warmly received by Hassan Houmed Ibrahim, Djibouti’s Minister of Infrastructure and Equipment.

Djibouti, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Uganda signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing the DESSU Corridor Authority on February 27, 2025.

The signing concluded a ministerial meeting that began earlier in the week, during which extensive discussions were held at the Technical Committee level on the draft MoU.

The corridor is expected to enhance regional integration by improving infrastructure links, fostering cooperation, and stimulating economic growth among the four countries.

It will also boost African connectivity by linking key hubs, including Djibouti, Addis Ababa, Juba, and Kampala.

Originally launched by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the initiative builds on an MoU signed by the four member states in 2019.

The agreement also includes the formation of Joint Steering and Technical Committees and the completion of funding requests to the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Additionally, the project aims to prioritize Africa’s seacoast cabotage for African-flagged vessels, led by the Port Management Association of Eastern and Southern Africa, further strengthening regional maritime trade.