According to Ethiopian media reports, the Ethiopian government has awarded eight contracts worth US$456 million to build roads connecting Sudan, Kenya, Eritrea and Somalia.

The planned route includes a northern route connecting Endasilassie in Tigray Province and Eritrea. A road from the western town of Debet will lead to Sudan. In the south, a highway will be built between Negele Borena in the Oromia region, connecting Ethiopia with Kenya and Somalia.

The Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) is planning a 738 km highway. Seven of these projects will be funded by the state, and the eighth project will be funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the African Development Bank and the World Bank. The project is located between Jimma and Chida towns in southwestern Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian Roads Authority said five of the roads will be built by local construction companies and three roads will be built by international contractors.

Since July, the bureau has approved 21 construction projects with a total length of 1,774 kilometers and a value of US$1.1 billion.

Ethiopian Roads Authority is planning 738 kilometers of highwayEditor/Huang Lijun