New Djibouti–Ethiopia–South Sudan–Uganda Corridor to Connect Uganda to Red Sea, Gen. Saleh Hails as ‘Game-Changer

Uganda has joined Djibouti, Ethiopia and South Sudan in signing an agreement establishing the Djibouti–Ethiopia–South Sudan–Uganda (DESSU) Corridor Authority, a major regional initiative expected to significantly strengthen cross-border trade, transport connectivity and logistics cooperation across the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region.

The signing ceremony was held Sunday at the Djibouti Palace Kempinski, in the presence of the Ministers of Transport from the four participating countries, as well as the Ambassador of the European Union.

The agreement formally establishes the DESSU Corridor Authority, building on last year’s Memorandum of Understanding that laid the groundwork for the corridor framework. The new Authority provides an institutional structure to coordinate infrastructure development, logistics systems, trade facilitation and regulatory harmonisation along the corridor.

For Uganda, the development marks a strategic breakthrough in securing expanded and structured access to the Port of Djibouti, strengthening Kampala’s trade diversification strategy and enhancing its connectivity to global markets.

Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho, widely known as Salim Saleh, Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation and Senior Presidential Advisor on Defence, earlier described the Djibouti–Ethiopia–South Sudan–Uganda (DESSU) Corridor as a strategic breakthrough for regional integration and economic transformation.

In a recent communication confirming Uganda’s commitment to the initiative, Gen. Saleh emphasized that the corridor lays “a strong foundation for enhanced regional integration, increased trade flows, investment opportunities, regional security stability and sustainable economic growth” across the four participating countries. He commended the diplomatic goodwill and resilience demonstrated throughout the negotiation process.

Uganda: “The Real Work Begins Now”

Speaking at the ceremony, Uganda’s Minister of Works and Transport, Hon. Edward Katumba Wamala, emphasized that the agreement must translate into practical implementation.

“Let this signing be more than a formal ceremony. Let it be a commitment to implementation, accountability, and continued partnership with efficiency and sustainability. The real work begins now — turning agreements into tangible progress for our people,” he said.

Katumba called for accelerated development of roads, railways and improved air connections, alongside the removal of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) to ensure seamless border operations.

“Seamless borders and removing Non-Tariff Barriers between our countries must be prioritized to make DESSU meaningful and beneficial to all of us,” he added.

For Uganda, a landlocked country seeking to optimize multiple trade routes, the DESSU Corridor offers an additional strategic outlet through Djibouti, complementing existing regional corridors and reducing vulnerability to logistical disruptions.

Djibouti’s Minister of Infrastructure and Equipment, H.E. Hassan Houmed, described the corridor as a reflection of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 vision.

“The DESSU Corridor stands as a powerful reflection of the principles of Agenda 2063. It embodies ‘The Africa We Want’: an integrated continent where borders are no longer barriers that divide, but bridges that unite,” he said.

Houmed noted that the corridor aligns with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and strengthens regional blocs including IGAD and COMESA. He reaffirmed Djibouti’s full commitment under the leadership of President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh to ensure the corridor becomes a model of regional integration.

Ethiopia’s Minister of Transport and Logistics, H.E. Alemu Sime Fayisa (PhD), described the corridor as more than a transport route.

“The DESSU Corridor is not merely a transport route — it is a strategic line for regional integration, economic advancement, and shared prosperity,” he said.

As a land-linked nation, Ethiopia positioned itself as a connector linking South Sudan and Uganda to the sea through Djibouti’s ports, stressing that seamless logistics systems are now a necessity for sustaining its rapid economic expansion.

South Sudan’s Minister of Transport, Hon. Lt. Gen. Rizik Zakaria Hassan, called the signing a historic day driven by political will among the four states.

As one of Africa’s 16 landlocked countries, he said South Sudan stands to benefit significantly from reliable infrastructure and pledged swift ratification and domestication of the treaty upon return home.

The Chairman of the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority explained that the DESSU Corridor establishes an integrated economic system linking the Port of Djibouti to Addis Ababa, Jimma, Boma, Raad, Kapoeta, Nimule, Gulu and Kampala — creating a continuous logistics chain from global maritime routes to inland production and consumption centres.

He noted that the corridor is expected to reduce logistics costs, shorten transit times, improve supply-chain predictability and lower import costs for households and industries.

These efficiencies, he said, would boost export competitiveness, increase trade volumes, stimulate industrial development and support sustained GDP growth across all four countries.

Strategic Significance for Uganda

For Uganda, participation in the DESSU Corridor Authority represents a calculated move to deepen regional economic integration while strengthening trade resilience. The initiative expands Uganda’s access to the Red Sea via Djibouti and positions Kampala within a broader Horn of Africa logistics architecture aligned with AfCFTA ambitions.

With the Authority now formally established, attention shifts to implementation, infrastructure upgrades, regulatory harmonisation, and operational coordination that will determine how quickly the corridor begins delivering measurable economic impact.

As Minister Katumba stated, the signing is only the beginning.

“The real work begins now.”