Kenya, Ethiopia agree to build two bridges to boost access and trade for border communities

Underserved communities along the Kenya-Ethiopia border are set to gain better access to vital services after the two countries agreed to build two bridges across the River Dawa at Rhamu and Suftu.

In a joint communiqué issued on Thursday, the governments of Kenya and Ethiopia announced that the new bridges will help border communities access healthcare, education, and markets more easily.

The announcement was made following a high-level bilateral meeting between senior officials from both countries, convened under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) at Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian team was led by Finance Minister Ahmed Shide, while Kenya was represented by the Principal Secretary for Investment and Assets Management, Cyrell Odede Wagunda.

Also in attendance was IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu.

The meeting focused on enhancing infrastructural connectivity, promoting socio-economic growth, trade facilitation, and cross-border development.

It was held within the broader frameworks of IGAD’s Vision 2050 and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with both countries stressing the need to align national infrastructure projects with regional integration goals.

Cross-border cooperation

The discussions reaffirmed mutual commitment to cross-border cooperation, peaceful resolution of challenges through diplomacy, and the development of shared infrastructure to benefit communities on both sides of the border.

A key resolution from the meeting was the resumption of deliberations on the River Dawa Basin Development Initiatives, which will now proceed under IGAD’s guidance.

The initiative aims to revive a resource mobilisation plan to harness transboundary water resources for shared economic and social benefits.

“The Horn of Africa Development Initiatives are transformative programs to improve movement of goods, people, and digital services across the Ethiopian-Kenyan border,” the communiqué said.

The two governments committed to supporting the construction of two bridges across the River Dawa—one at Rhamu and the other at Suftu.

"These bridges are passages of hope that will not only carry vehicles but also convey the aspiration of underserved communities to access healthcare, education, and markets,” the statement read.

The two countries agreed to operationalise a one-stop border post (OSBP) at Rhamu and a Trade Facilitation Centre at Suftu.

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• River Dawa Basin Development Initiatives
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• Ethiopia agree to build two bridges to boost access and trade for border communities

The facilities are intended to demonstrate IGAD’s commitment to implementing the AfCFTA Agreement by easing trade between Ethiopia and Kenya, reducing border-crossing times, cutting transport costs, and making regional goods more competitive in international markets.

Fibre optic connectivity

The communiqué also noted that both states are committed to completing cross-border fibre optic connectivity. This includes improving digital services, expanding access to digital jobs, and advancing emerging technologies across the region.

Both governments further pledged to finalise a draft bilateral agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters, along with other enabling legal frameworks.

They recognised the need for consensus on several key infrastructural elements, including the locations of the OSBP at Rhamu, the Trade Facilitation Centre at Suftu, access roads to the bridges, associated bridge construction sites at both locations, and fibre optic “meet me” points.

The two countries acknowledged the significant role of IGAD as one of the Regional Economic Communities of the African Union, particularly in modelling regional integration and cooperation.