South Sudan, Ethiopia push ahead with key link road project to boost trade
High-level delegations from the two countries reviewed bilateral agreements signed during earlier landmark engagements between President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed
By Emmanuel Mandella
South Sudan and Ethiopia have reignited their economic partnership with a bold plan to connect the two countries through a transformative road infrastructure project that leaders say will redefine trade, mobility, and development across the Horn of Africa.
The breakthrough came during a high-level engagement in Juba on Tuesday between South Sudan’s Vice President for Economic Cluster, Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel, and an Ethiopian delegation led by Hon. Amb. Girma Biru, Senior Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister, and Hon. Ahmed Shide, Ethiopia’s Minister of Finance.
The South Sudanese team included Hon. Athian Diing Athian, Minister of Finance and Planning, and Dr. Addis Ababa Othow, Governor of the Bank of South Sudan.
Building on Presidential Commitments, the two delegations reviewed bilateral agreements signed during earlier landmark engagements between President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, which laid the foundation for deeper cooperation in trade, infrastructure, and energy.
The road project is part of a wider framework covering electricity generation and distribution, air transport, telecommunications, banking, petroleum, and human resource development. Officials from both sides stressed that the initiatives would not only strengthen ties but also unlock regional economic corridors that could transform livelihoods.
Vice President Dr. Bol Mel emphasized the urgency of moving from words to action.
“These projects must be implemented with urgency and discipline so that citizens quickly begin to feel the benefits in their daily lives,” he said. “When nations cooperate, citizens win.”
He added that the connectivity will allow farmers to move their produce to markets, youth to find jobs in emerging industries, and families to access affordable goods while boosting trade and prosperity across the two nations.
Ambassador Girma Biru, speaking on behalf of the Ethiopian delegation, said the project represents more than infrastructure, but it is about building resilience, reducing costs of trade, and fostering interdependence between the two neighbors.
As Strategic Benefits for South Sudan, economists note that Ethiopia, with its population of over 120 million, provides a major market for South Sudanese goods. Improved connectivity could reduce South Sudan’s over-reliance on northern trade routes, cut transport costs, and ease the movement of products, agricultural commodities, and manufactured goods.
The South Sudan–Ethiopia Road Connectivity Project also ties into continental frameworks, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the IGAD infrastructure development agenda, which seek to accelerate cross-border trade and industrialization.
If completed, the road will not only link Juba to Addis Ababa but also connect rural communities, ease humanitarian access, and expand investment opportunities.
As discussions closed, both delegations pledged to prioritize the project and ensure accountability in its execution.
With momentum building, observers say the coming months will be crucial in translating political commitments into tangible construction that South Sudanese and Ethiopians can see, feel, and benefit from.
