Ethiopia seeks help from Kenya ports amid rift with Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Ethiopia is now keen to use Kenya's Lamu port which was initially designed to help the Horn of Africa nation but has dragged since its inception, with related projects taking too long to be completed by subsequent governments.

Initially, the Lamu port was meant to serve the interests of Southern Sudan and Ethiopia, which are landlocked and heavily depend on the overstretched Port of Djibouti, whose tariffs are also said to be extremely expensive for the two nations.

Kenya now wants to complete construction of the Lamu port and other related projects including the northern corridor road which extends to South Sudan and Ethiopia.

Kenya and Ethiopia have agreed to fight insecurity, review tariffs, and fast-track the completion of infrastructure projects to facilitate the seamless flow of cargo from Lamu to Ethiopia. A meeting was held last week to fast-track the process of completing these projects.

The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) will rework port tariffs as Ethiopia puts in place plans to start using the port the month. The tariffs are one of the conditions Addis asked to be considered after Kenya assured them of security on the Lamu Port, South Sudan Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) corridor.

Lapsset Corridor Development Authority (LCDA) Chairman Ali Mbogo and Chief Executive Stephen Ikua assured traders of their security and free flow of cargo.

“The Lapsset management has requested the Kenyan government to consolidate the budget of all Lapsset components with a view to fast-tracking implementation of the missing links and therein improve the prospects of the Lapsset corridor as the preferred route for transport and transit cargo destined to and from Ethiopia and South Sudan,” said Mr Mbogo.

“We have met with all security agents along the corridor from Lamu to the Moyale One-Stop Border Post, where we have set measures to secure cargo, vehicles, and implementers of different pending projects.”

Kenya and Ethiopia have constituted a joint technical committee to address key issues derailing the commercialization of the Lapsset corridor, the East African reports.

Ethiopia is under pressure from Somalia which accuses it of breaching territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Horn of Africa nation. Ethiopia is keen to establish a port and military training facility within the Red Sea, inside Somalia, a move which has sparked international condemnation.

GAROWE ONLINE