By James Chatim

The Minister of Transport, Rizik Zakaria Hassan, has joined regional ministers and infrastructure stakeholders to finalize the establishment of the Djibouti-Ethiopia-South Sudan-Uganda (DESSU) Corridor Management Authority.

The high-level ministerial meeting regarding the (DESSU) corridor that kicked off on Saturday, focuses on establishing a management authority to enhance regional, land and waterway connectivity.

The initiative aims to reduce trade costs, improve access to Djibouti’s ports, and boost economic integration, backed by recent African Development Bank funding.

According to the statement from the ministry, the Corridor is a strategic multi-modal transport initiative designed to streamline logistics, reduce transit costs and provide South Sudan with enhanced access to international markets via the Port of Djibouti.

The Djibouti-Ethiopia-South Sudan-Uganda (DESSU) Corridor is a rapidly evolving regional infrastructure initiative designed to connect landlocked South Sudan and Uganda to the ports of Djibouti via Ethiopia. As of early 2026, this initiative is in a high-priority, active phase, with significant funding and political commitment aimed at reducing transport costs, bypassing unstable routes, and enhancing regional economic integration in the Horn of Africa.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by the four nations (Djibouti, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Uganda) in February/March 2025 to create a dedicated Authority for the corridor.

The corridor acts as a vital alternative for South Sudan to move cargo, particularly due to the disruption of oil supply routes through Port Sudan.

The project, specifically Phase II of the South Sudan-Ethiopia-Djibouti Transport Corridor (often linked with the DESSU framework), focuses on upgrading road infrastructure in Djibouti, building expressways in Ethiopia, and addressing missing links in South Sudan.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) approved $214.4 million for Phase II of the corridor project, with further support from the Korea Exim Bank. The Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority (DPFZA) is driving the initiative to connect the corridor with the Gulu Industrial Park in Uganda.

The development includes road construction, specialized training for logistics staff, and the establishment of a Transport Observatory to monitor cargo flow.