Africa-Press – South-Sudan. South Sudan and Djibouti signed an agreement Monday to develop a major trade corridor along the White Nile River, a project aimed at giving the landlocked East African nation new access to sea routes and boosting regional commerce.
The memorandum of understanding, signed by the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority and South Sudan’s government, focuses on building river and dry ports in several South Sudanese towns, including Juba, Bor, Malakal and Renk.
South Sudan’s Transport Minister, Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin, called the signing a “significant milestone” for cooperation with Djibouti. He said the project would boost trade, advance logistics and foster economic growth in the Great Lakes region once implemented.
The initiative is part of the White Nile Corridor development plan, which will use two main logistics routes to connect South Sudan to Djibouti’s ports, according to a statement from the Djibouti authority.
One route will move goods by road from Djibouti through Ethiopia to Nasir in South Sudan, and then by barge along the Sobat and White Nile rivers. A second corridor will connect to Port Sudan, with road transport to Kosti, Sudan, before transferring to barges on the White Nile heading south.
The Djibouti authority said the corridors will also be supported by air cargo solutions for high-value shipments from Asia.
During a visit to Djibouti, a South Sudanese delegation toured key port and industrial facilities. The authority stated that South Sudan has secured a logistics platform at the Djibouti International Free Trade Zone to support its trade flows.
The deal aims to solidify South Sudan’s position as a logistics hub and provide it with more reliable trade outlets, while reinforcing Djibouti’s role as a vital trade gateway on the Bab el-Mandeb strait.
For More News And Analysis About South-Sudan Follow Africa-Press
