LAPSSET Corridor Gains Momentum: A Key Driver of Regional Integration
The LAPSSET Corridor is making significant strides toward becoming a transformative infrastructure project in East Africa, with multiple developments taking shape to boost economic integration and trade. Among its key features are a 32-berth port at Manda Bay in Lamu, an inter-regional standard gauge railway connecting Lamu to Juba in South Sudan and Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, and critical road and pipeline networks linking the region.
During a recent two-day Joint Technical Committee (JTC) meeting in Nairobi, regional stakeholders reviewed and validated a proposed Regional Coordination Mechanism (RCM) that will streamline the development of the LAPSSET Corridor. The meeting, which involved representatives from Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Sudan, was supported by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and other partners, including the Nepad/African Peer Review Mechanism Secretariat.
The Lead Executive Officer for Logistics Administration from the Ethiopian Maritime Authority, Yalew Tesfaye, highlighted Ethiopia’s successful shipment of bulk cargo through the Port of Lamu, underscoring LAPSSET’s significance for Ethiopia’s growing economy. Tesfaye noted that LAPSSET provides Ethiopia with sustainable access to multiple seaports, critical for supporting its population and economic expansion.
South Sudan is also making progress in its contributions to the LAPSSET Corridor. The country announced plans to begin constructing the road section between the Kenya-South Sudan border and Juba. Lado Tombe, Director General for the Road and Safety Authority of South Sudan, confirmed that the World Bank will fund the engineering design and construction of the Nadapal-Juba road, marking a major advancement for the project.
The importance of the LAPSSET Corridor as a vehicle for regional growth was reiterated by Stephen Karingi, Director of the Regional Integration and Trade Division at the ECA. Karingi emphasized that LAPSSET will enhance connectivity, boost trade, and contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. He also highlighted the progress made in implementing commitments from the Juba Ministerial Council, which called for integrating the LAPSSET project into national development plans across the three member states.
The Director General of the LAPSSET Corridor Development Authority, Stephen Ikua, noted that the successful conclusion of the second JTC meeting marked a critical step in the project’s advancement. The meeting saw the validation and signing of the Regional Coordination Mechanism report, which formalizes the collaboration between the three partner states. Ikua emphasized the importance of this shared commitment, stating that a coordinated approach will streamline financing and implementation of cross-border infrastructure components, accelerating the project’s success.
The original design of the LAPSSET project includes ambitious infrastructure components, such as a road network and oil pipelines from South Sudan and Ethiopia, an oil refinery in Bargoni, three international airports, and resort cities in Lamu, Isiolo, and near Lake Turkana. Additionally, the project features the multi-purpose High Grand Falls Dam on the Tana River, intended to boost regional water security and hydroelectric power production.
Samori Okwiya, CEO of Nepad/APRM Kenya Secretariat, lauded the progress made by member states and stakeholders, expressing optimism for the future of the LAPSSET Corridor. He noted that the successful implementation of the project would enhance regional connectivity, facilitating smoother trade and travel between East African countries.
The meeting also laid the groundwork for developing a legal framework for the RCM, which is expected to be presented at the next JTC meeting and subsequently adopted by the Fourth Ministerial Council. The JTC members expressed appreciation to the ECA for its ongoing support of the LAPSSET Programme, particularly its role in facilitating the development and validation of the RCM framework.
As the LAPSSET Corridor continues to take shape, it remains a symbol of East Africa’s commitment to fostering regional integration, unlocking economic potential, and enhancing trade with global markets. The successful realization of this initiative will have far-reaching benefits for the economies of Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and the broader East African region.
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