Commercial Diplomacy

DESSU Corridor Authority Established to Advance Regional and Connectivity

Winnie Akidi Adile

Djibouti, Djibouti

Djibouti, Djibouti – A major milestone in regional integration and infrastructure development has been achieved following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing the Djibouti–Ethiopia–South Sudan–Uganda (DESSU) Corridor Authority. The agreement was signed in Djibouti City by Uganda’s Minister of Works and Transport, Hon. Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, together with his ministerial counterparts from Djibouti, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.

The signing of the MoU formally creates the DESSU Corridor Authority as a multilateral institution mandated to coordinate, manage, and oversee the development of the emerging transport and trade corridor. The Authority will serve as a central framework for joint planning, resource mobilization, infrastructure development, and policy harmonization among the four partner states.

The establishment of the Corridor reflects a shared commitment by Djibouti, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Uganda to transform the route into a fully-fledged Regional Development Economic Corridor aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions an integrated, prosperous, and connected Africa driven by sustainable development.

The partner states are united by a common objective to strengthen friendly relations, deepen economic cooperation, and expand opportunities for trade and investment. A key guiding principle of the initiative is the recognition that no country whether land-linked or coastal should be isolated from global trade networks. By improving connectivity to ports and markets, the Corridor is expected to unlock economic potential across the Eastern and Horn of Africa regions.

Leaders emphasised the urgent need for a seamless, efficient, and sustainable trade and transport system that will reduce the cost of doing business, facilitate the movement of goods and people, and stimulate interstate commerce. The Corridor is also expected to catalyze industrial growth, logistics development, and value chain expansion along its route. Equally important is the adoption of a coordinated multilateral approach to address administrative, legal, regulatory, and infrastructural challenges that have historically constrained trade and transit across the region. Through joint frameworks and institutional cooperation, the DESSU Corridor Authority will work to streamline customs procedures, improve border management, and promote infrastructure standardisation.

The four partner states have expressed strong determination to collaborate in fostering economic growth, sustainable development, and enhanced regional competitiveness. By advancing connectivity and trade facilitation, the Corridor is poised to improve livelihoods, create jobs, and promote shared prosperity for the populations of the participating countries.

The signing of the MoU marks the beginning of a transformative journey toward deeper regional integration and positions the DESSU Corridor as a strategic gateway for Africa’s future trade and development ambitions.