New financing expands transport connectivity by improving Somalian roads, strengthens cross-border linkages and supports regional integration under the Horn of Africa corridor initiative.
AfDB Approves Additional Financing for Somalia Roads
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved $76.37 million in additional financing for Somalia’s Road Infrastructure Programme, a strategic component of the broader Horn of Africa transport corridor project. The approval, confirmed in an announcement by the Bank, aims to improve domestic and regional connectivity.
The financing boost supports ongoing upgrades of the country’s road network, with the goal of strengthening logistical links both within Somalia and with neighboring countries including Ethiopia and Djibouti.
Financing Package and Expanded Scope
The total additional financing comprises $49.16 million from the African Development Fund, the Bank’s concessional lending arm, and $27.21 million from the Transition Support Facility, which targets countries confronting fragility and conflict.
AfDB officials have noted that the program has grown from limited interventions to a more comprehensive set of activities. Improvements include expanded road sections, bridge construction, trade facilitation measures and community-oriented infrastructure designed to maximize socio-economic benefits for corridor users.
Mike Salawou, the Bank Group’s Director of Infrastructure and Urban Development, said of the plans, “The Programme has evolved from minimal interventions to full road upgrades, enabled by improved designs and the integration of new components, including bridges, additional road sections, and trade facilitation measures, social infrastructure to maximize the benefit for the local community.”
Strategic Road Sections and Regional Impact
According to AfDB statements, the funding will focus on upgrading two critical routes:
- A 15-kilometre section linking Zeila to Asha Addo in Somaliland.
- A 22-kilometre stretch between Beled Weyne and Kalabeyr in Hirshabelle State.
These segments are considered vital for integrating Somalia’s internal transport network with the Horn of Africa corridor, enhancing mobility for people and goods across borders and supporting increased commerce.
Broader Development and Trade Objectives
The expanded program emphasizes not only road construction but also trade facilitation and community development.
Initiatives include:
- Supporting small traders and modernizing customs systems.
- Providing social infrastructure such as boreholes, refurbished classrooms, markets and storage facilities.
These interventions are designed to contribute to both economic resilience and improved livelihoods along key transport corridors, a priority in parts of Somalia affected by conflict and infrastructural gaps.
By focusing on connectivity and infrastructure integration, the AfDB’s additional financing aligns with continental and regional trade goals, helping to reduce logistical bottlenecks that have historically constrained intra-African commerce, particularly in fragile regions such as the Horn of Africa.
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