They are currently contrusting a railway with djoubiti since trucks take a long time to reach Addis.Since the railway is close to the border with Somaliland they are thinking of expanding it through Hargeisa untill it reaches Berbera.South Somalia and kismayo are not viable since obviously shabab will bomb it with IEDs.Hopefully they will get it to reach Bosaaso also.What do you guys think? Full article:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-34871074 Mr Getachew hints at another potential role. He shows me how the Addis-Djibouti line lies close to Ethiopia's border with Somaliland, which declared independence in 1991 but has not been recognised internationally.
There has long been talk of linking Ethiopia with Somaliland's underused and underdeveloped Berbera port, which is 854km by road from Addis Ababa.
Africa ports
Ethiopia would then have an alternative to Djibouti, which is one of the world's most expensive ports and is becoming ever-more congested due to the increased demands of Africa's fast-growing economies.
'Win-win'
A railway could also bring wealth to Somalis, suggests Mr Getachew. Somalia has the longest coastline in Africa, and has rich fish stocks. But Somalis are not keen on eating fish.
"Ethiopians have two fasting days a week when we only eat fish. As a landlocked country, we only have Nile perch and tilapia. As our economy grows, at about 10% a year, demand increases for more variety. This could be a win-win situation."
Worker on the Addis Ababa to Djibouti lineImage copyrightGetty Images
Image caption
The railway is expected to bring economic growth to the region
Constructing a rail link to Berbera would be a major challenge. This is mainly because Somaliland's ambiguous status means it would be difficult to secure vital international funding. But the territory is relatively stable, and, unlike in conflict-ridden southern and central Somalia, a railway line is unlikely to face threats of sabotage.
Somalia has several ports, and the potential for many more. It is possible to envisage rail lines linking Ethiopia and the Somali interior with ports all the way down the country, from Zeila in the north-east to Kismayo in the south.
This prospect for economic growth might serve as an incentive for the weak, sometimes directionless Somali government, and indeed foreign donors who have poured billions into the country since it fell apart nearly 30 years ago, often to little effect.
Perhaps the idea of a railway would spur on Somalis and their allies to drive out violent groups, including the al-Qaeda linked movement al-Shabab, which controls much of the country.
As one Ethiopian rail enthusiast put it: "Maybe Mr Getachew will be remembered not only as Ethiopia's Brunel but as a peacemaker for the entire region."
