Ethio-Djibouti Railway Traffic Rises Sharply

By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter

Addis Ababa (Dawan Africa) The Ethio-Djibouti Railway recorded a significant increase in traffic during the first nine months of the 2025–2026 fiscal year, according to Djibouti’s state news agency ADI.

The development was announced during the 25th meeting of the Board of Directors of the Ethio-Djibouti Railway, held in Addis Ababa. The meeting focused on the performance of the railway corridor linking the two countries, existing challenges and efforts to strengthen the company’s operations.

The meeting was chaired by Ethiopia’s Minister of Mines, Habtamu Tegegne, and was attended by company executives, including Chief Executive Officer Takale Uma and his deputy, Youssouf Djama Farah.

According to data presented to the board, railway traffic was significantly higher than during the same period of the previous fiscal year. The increase reflects improving trade activity along the Ethiopia-Djibouti corridor, where the railway plays an important role in connecting Djibouti’s ports with the Ethiopian market.

The Addis Ababa–Djibouti railway is one of the major infrastructure projects in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia, a landlocked country, relies heavily on Djibouti’s ports, while the railway is important for speeding up cargo movement, reducing transport costs and facilitating trade between the two countries.

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The board also reviewed audit reports covering the fiscal years from 2021 to 2025 and discussed challenges that continue to prevent the company from fully achieving its strategic objectives.

The new Addis Ababa–Djibouti railway, whose construction began in 2012, officially started commercial operations on January 1, 2018. It replaced the historic railway built between 1897 and 1917, which for decades served as the main route connecting Ethiopia to Djibouti’s ports.

Board members praised the work of the Ethio-Djibouti Railway management but called for further efforts to strengthen performance and achieve the expected results.

The rise in railway traffic comes as Ethiopia and Djibouti continue to deepen cooperation in transport, ports and trade, with the corridor remaining a vital economic link between the two countries.