South Sudan and Djibouti have signed a historic agreement to develop new trade corridors linking White Nile River ports and key dry ports across South Sudan to Djibouti’s maritime infrastructure.

On paper, this could be transformative - positioning South Sudan as a logistics hub within the wider African Great Lakes Region and creating new economic lifelines beyond the traditional southern routes through the East African Community.

What is particularly striking is the ambition to prioritize corridors such as Malakal, Renk, and Nasir, threading through the Sobat basin - an area that has for much of this year been synonymous with instability, White Army mobilisations, and aerial bombardments. The contrast could not be sharper: the same terrain that has symbolised insecurity may now be reimagined as a conduit for trade and development.

The question is whether South Sudan can align its security posture with its economic aspirations. Infrastructure is only as valuable as the environment it operates in. If stability can be sustained along these critical corridors, this initiative could mark a turning point - diversifying South Sudan’s access to regional markets, embedding it more firmly in continental trade dynamics, and reducing reliance on vulnerable southern supply lines.

The stakes are clear: without credible improvements in security and governance, physical investment risks becoming stranded assets. But if South Sudan manages to seize this opportunity, the deal with Djibouti could be remembered not only as a logistics agreement, but as a bold step towards long-term development and integration.

https://www.radiotamazuj.org/en/news/article/south-sudan-djibouti-sign-deal-to-develop-trade-corridor#:~:text=South%20Sudan%20and%20Djibouti%20signed,routes%20and%20boosting%20regional%20commerce.