Addis Ababa, February 17, 2026 (FMC) — The Ethiopia–Djibouti Joint Railway Commission (JRC) held its formal meeting in Djibouti on February 17, 2026, in accordance with the Bilateral Agreement on the Ethiopia–Djibouti Railway signed on December 8, 2016.
The meeting was co-chaired by Ethiopia’s Minister of Transport and Logistics, Alemu Sime, and Djibouti’s Minister of Infrastructure and Equipment, Hassan Houmed Ibrahim.
The Commission reviewed recent high-level discussions between the leaders of the two countries and reaffirmed the JRC as the principal mechanism for translating bilateral decisions into concrete operational outcomes.
Emphasizing the strategic importance of the Ethiopia–Djibouti Railway, the Commission noted its central role in strengthening economic integration, facilitating trade flows, and deepening connectivity between the two countries and the wider region.
Following a performance review of the railway, the Commission agreed on a set of measures aimed at improving efficiency and expanding infrastructure linkages. These include conducting joint technical studies to enhance port-related services and finalizing the connection of the railway with the Horizon Terminal.
The Commission further agreed to undertake technical studies and implementation works to connect the railway line with the Djibouti Multipurpose Port within nine months, as well as to link it with the Djibouti Damerjog Industrial Development zone.
Additional measures include facilitating smoother cross-border mobility of railway personnel, equipment, assets, and machinery, and enabling the railway operator to diversify its business operations in line with the national laws of both countries.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to ensuring that the Ethiopia–Djibouti Railway remains a cornerstone of bilateral strategic cooperation.