ADDIS ABBA, Ethiopia – It was revealed this week that Ethiopia and Kenya are concentrating on carrying out the Dawa and Liban Zone Bridges Project, which is funded by the World Bank.
The goal of this historic infrastructure project is to improve the two nations’ economic integration and interconnectedness.
This revelation was made by Marsabit Governor Mohamud Ali, in his capacity as the Chair of the Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC), who paid a high-level courtesy call on Ahmed Shide, Minister for Finance of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
“When finished, the Dawa and Liban Zone Bridges will serve as vital cross-border routes connecting Kenya’s Marsabit and Mandera counties with Ethiopia’s Somali Region,” said Governor Mohamud.
Smoother trade, improved intercommunal peacebuilding, and increased social engagement between people on both sides of the border are all anticipated benefits of the bridges.
What else did the Kenyan and Ethiopian leaders deliberate upon
Discussions during the meeting also brought attention to important complementary components of the project, particularly the harmonisation of cross-border taxation systems and the deployment of digital infrastructure, including internet connectivity, as part of the broader scope.
These elements, according to the county boss, are poised to expand economic possibilities and reinforce collaboration between institutions in the Horn of Africa.
Governor Mohamud was accompanied by Simba Gulleid, National Coordinator of the North Eastern Development Initiative (NEDI), and Abdikadir Suleiman, Head of Intergovernmental Relations and Coordination, County Government of Marsabit.
A two-day cross-border peace meeting concluded on May 17, 2021, bringing together leaders from the Somali Region of Ethiopia and Mandera County.
The peace meeting was between the political leadership of Mandera County, the county security team, and the administrations of Dawa Zone and Liban Zone, led by their respective provincial commissioners, Mohamed Ali Kunaye and Mohamed Mohamud Adan, with their delegations.
After a fruitful discussion, the following resolutions were reached:
1. It was agreed that both administrations of Kenya and Ethiopia would apprehend the criminals behind the then killings of innocent lives and ensure they face the full force of the law.
2. They also committed as Kenyans and Ethiopians to treat criminals as criminals and not community representatives.
3. The Ethiopian authorities undertook to organise a peace meeting between Garre and Degodia to be organised by Dawa and Liban Zone administrations in Hawassa at a date to be communicated later.
4. The meeting also resolved that the administration of Kenya in Mandera County and the Ethiopian Liban and Dawa Zones administrations take full responsibility to enforce security within their borders
5. The leaders undertook the administration of Ethiopia’s Liban and Dawa zones to upscale administrative and security activities along the common border with Kenya.
6. It was agreed that the two administrative units should share intelligence information between them on all security-related matters.
7. The leaders committed to undertaking regular and structured meetings to promote cohesion and inter-community peace across the borders of Kenya and Ethiopia.
8. The communities along the border of Kenya and Ethiopia are to report security incidences to the respective administration within their respective jurisdiction in good time.
