Rail link to Djibouti opened after chaos in Ethiopia

Passengers queue to ride Ethiopia's new tramway on September 20, 2015 in Addis Ababa. [File photo]

NAIROBI, Kenya - The major rail link to Djibouti from Ethiopia has been opened to public use following chaos in the Somali region of Ethiopia, multiple sources have confirmed, after fears of a collapse of economy due to the conflict.

Protestors from the Somali region of Ethiopia blocked the major route after it emerged that militia from the Afar region was targeting ordinary people over a land dispute. The clashes left hundreds of people dead.

Estimates done by several groups placed the number of those who were killed at 500 with the majority of them being women and children. The clashes coincided with the ongoing conflict between the federal government and Tigray Defense Forces [TDF].

Irate Somali youths responded to the onslaught from Afar by blocking the Ethio-Djibouti railway which passes through the Afar region. The railway is important given that it boosts trade between Ethiopia and Djibouti within the Horn of Africa.

Being a landlocked country, Ethiopia has been using the Port of Djibouti for imports and exports, thus benefiting the two sides. Currently, Ethiopia is also exploring options of using the Port of Berbera in Somaliland.

A government source on Tuesday told The Nation that operations resumed after federal and regional officials held discussions with communities in Somali and Afar. According to the source, both passenger and freight transport services have been restored.

In fact, early this week, Djibouti had started sending troops to the border with Ethiopia, terming the clashes at Afar and Somali regions as "unacceptable". Djibouti called for calmness and understanding from both parties.

The Afar militia carried out the latest attacks but the two regions have a long-standing territorial dispute. The dispute has been lasting for decades but the hostilities came at a time the country is experiencing a lot of uncertainties.

Ali Bedel, the Somali regional government spokesperson said the attacks have been carried out in Somalia's Sitti zone of Gedamaytu and Gabraiisa areas. The clashes first started unnoticed according to authorities.

Last week, Somali authorities confirmed that at least 300 people, most of them locals, died in the violence, which began on July 24. But some reports, later on, emerged that the death toll could be slightly over 500.

The trade along the corridor has also been booming in recent years, helping them over 115 million Ethiopians. There were also fears that TDF could uproot the rail link besides destroying the road to Djibouti after it emerged that it had crossed over to Afar territory.

The 752-kilometer Ethio-Djibouti railway line, built at a cost of $3.4 billion, has been providing passenger and freight transport since January 2018. It has been a major financial aid to Djibouti and Ethiopia in terms of foreign exchange earner.

At least 70 percent of the railway line’s total cost was financed by loans from the Chinese government with the Ethiopian government catering for the remaining 30 percent.

GAROWE ONLINE