Horn corridor funding approved
The African Development Bank has approved $76.3 million in additional financing to advance transport connectivity in Somalia as part of the "Horn of Africa" corridor linking Somalia, Djibouti and Ethiopia. The package includes $49.16 million from the "African Development Fund" and $27.21 million from the "Transition Support Facility". The programme aims to improve domestic and cross-border transport links, support regional integration and redcuce fragility across the Horn of Africa, as the African Development Bank reported.
Funding will upgrade two strategic road sections – a 15 km link between Zeila and Asha Addo in Somaliland and a 22 km stretch from Beled Weyne to Kalabeyr in Hirshabelle State. According to Mike Salawou, the Bank Group’s Director of Infrastructure and Urban Development, the scope has expanded to include bridges, additional road sections and trade facilitation measures. Complementary investments aim to support local communities through boreholes, markets, storage facilities, refurbished classrooms and rehabilitated health centres.