The corridors of landlocked Ethiopia

Abstract

Following the loss of access to its Eritrean ports (Assab and Massawa), Ethiopia has been a landlocked state. The large majority of its economic activities are concentrated around the capital area, which benefits from strong road and rail links to the port of Djibouti and, to a lesser extent, to the port of Berbera (Somaliland). In an effort to reduce its dependence on intermediary states, Ethiopia is striving to develop alternative routes with neighbouring countries that have costal access, such as Sudan and Kenya. Thanks to massive public investment and support from external actors-particularly the People's Republic of China-Ethiopia's access-diversification strategy is making headway. However, progress is hampered considerably by its internal and regional security situation.