By Khadar Hassan Ali (Aloore)

 Introduction

Road infrastructure plays a fundamental role in national development. It supports trade, boosts food security, promotes social integration, and strengthens access to education, healthcare, and government services. In many emerging regions, including Ethiopia’s Somali Region, road construction is not only a technical undertaking but a transformational tool that can redefine how communities interact with markets, public services, and one another. Under the leadership of President Mustafe Omar, the Somali Regional State has taken important steps to prioritize road development, recognizing its role as a backbone of economic progress.

Many roads have been rehabilitated or newly constructed in the last few years to connect key urban centers and remote rural areas. However, one critical corridor—the road linking Jijiga to Awbare—remains severely neglected. This corridor is essential for the movement of goods and people, connecting Jijiga, the regional capital, to Awbare and surrounding areas, including Lafaisa, Harawa, Harorays, Tuli, and Makanis. These districts have significant agricultural output but remain disconnected from regional markets due to poor road infrastructure.

The current road conditions are inadequate, especially during the rainy season when large portions become impassable. For farmers in Awbare and surrounding districts, this isolation translates to lost income, wasted crops, and an inability to expand economic opportunities. Communities face delays in accessing health services, children struggle to attend school consistently, and law enforcement encounters obstacles in reaching remote areas. Constructing a modern, all-weather asphalt road from Jijiga to Awbare would be a transformative intervention, unlocking the economic potential of rural communities and ensuring inclusive regional development.

 Expanding Economic Integration and Market Access

The districts of Awbare, Harawa, Harorays, Tuli, and Makanis possess some of the most fertile agricultural lands in the Somali Region. These areas grow various food crops that could play a central role in improving local and national food security. However, due to the deteriorated condition of the road network, particularly during the rainy season, farmers in these areas face persistent obstacles in transporting their produce to Jijiga and other markets. This isolation contributes to significant post-harvest losses, reduced income, and limited incentives to scale up production.

The absence of dependable road infrastructure also discourages both local and foreign investment. Businesses, transport operators, and input suppliers avoid these districts due to logistical difficulties, further entrenching poverty. If a modern road were built, farmers could not only transport their produce efficiently but also access inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, and farming tools more reliably. This would boost agricultural productivity and enable farmers to expand into new crops and value chains. At the same time, traders from the Somali Region and beyond would gain easier access to rural markets, creating a cycle of mutual economic growth and opportunity.

Beyond agriculture, a functional road would encourage the development of other economic sectors, including small-scale manufacturing, logistics, and retail services. Storage centers, processing plants, and marketplaces could be established along the road corridor, generating employment and stimulating business activity. This road would also create incentives for the diaspora and private investors to channel resources into the region, contributing to sustainable economic transformation. Most importantly, this road would create a logistical corridor that strengthens economic ties between Ethiopia and Somaliland, opening up cross-border trade, tourism, and investment opportunities. By connecting productive districts directly to Jijiga and integrating them into the broader market system, the road would act as a catalyst for inclusive growth across the Somali Region.

 Improving Access to Essential Services

 The lack of reliable road infrastructure has made it increasingly difficult for residents of Awbare and neighboring districts to access basic services. Many rural villages are cut off from hospitals, schools, and administrative centers during the rainy season. This disconnection puts lives at risk and hampers human development. Medical emergencies are often fatal because patients cannot be transported to Jijiga in time. Pregnant women, infants, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable, as delays in reaching health services can lead to preventable deaths and long-term complications.

In addition to healthcare, education is also adversely affected by poor road access. Students in remote areas often walk long distances on dangerous, muddy paths to attend schools, and many are forced to drop out due to the difficulty of travel. Teachers also face significant challenges in reaching their assigned schools, reducing the quality and consistency of instruction. By improving road connectivity, the government would make it easier for children to attend school regularly and for education personnel to serve remote communities effectively.

Road infrastructure also plays a key role in delivering humanitarian assistance. During periods of drought, displacement, or food insecurity, aid organizations rely on accessible roads to deliver supplies and services. When roads are impassable, emergency response times increase, and aid delivery is delayed or completely halted. A modern, all-weather road would make humanitarian work more effective and ensure that vulnerable populations receive timely support.

Creating Employment and Reducing Poverty

The economic impact of building a new road extends far beyond its physical construction. During the building phase, the project would generate thousands of jobs for engineers, construction workers, drivers, and service providers. These employment opportunities would provide much-needed income for local families and inject capital into the local economy.

Beyond the construction phase, the improved road would support long term poverty reduction by enabling sustained economic growth. Farmers would earn higher incomes by reaching larger markets; businesses would expand due to lower transportation costs; and households would have better access to schools and health facilities, improving their quality of life. As a result, communities would be better positioned to escape cycles of poverty and invest in their future.

The new road would also support small and medium-sized enterprises by improving access to raw materials and finished goods. It would open new markets and encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly among youth and women, who are often excluded from formal economic opportunities due to mobility challenges.

Conclusion

Investing in a modern, all-weather asphalt road from Jijiga to Awbare is not simply a matter of infrastructure—it is a policy decision with wide-reaching implications for economic development, service delivery, security, and social transformation. The road would unlock the agricultural potential of Awbare, Lafaisa, Harawa, Harorays, Tuli, and Makanis; improve access to essential health and education services; enable faster emergency response and create thousands of jobs.

The benefits of this project are clear and measurable. For the Somali Region to achieve its development goals and build a more resilient, inclusive economy, urgent investment in the Jijiga–Awbare corridor must be prioritized. With coordinated effort from regional authorities, federal partners, and development stakeholders, this road could become a model of integrated rural development and a cornerstone of lasting prosperity in the Somali Region.

Khadar Hassan Ali (Aloore)
Email: khadarx@yahoo.com