The Role of Infrastructural Connectivity for Boosting Economic Integration in the Horn of Africa
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Date
2025-06-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This research investigates the roles of infrastructural connectivity in boosting regional
integration in the Horn of Africa – a sub-region known for fragile economy, political
instability and less viable connectivity. The multifaceted challenges and opportunities
observed in the region call for fostering regional integration. Existing studies have
investigated the challenges and prospects of regional integration in the Horn of Africa.
Nevertheless, there is a gap in the literature as the role of infrastructure connectivity in
boosting regional integration is less covered aspect. As such, fresh data that depicts the
status of existing infrastructure connectivity along with the implications on regional
integrations is a missing link in the thematic area. The study aims to answer, among others,
what the status of the current connectivity in the sub-region is; how different factors are
affecting regional integration efforts; as well as what types of challenges and opportunities
can be identified behind regional integration schemes. The study employed qualitative
research approach by gathering up-to-date data from primary and secondary sources. The
study demonstrated that the status of cross-border infrastructure in the HoA is characterized
by uneven development and critical missing link. Further, the study indicated the main roles
of infrastructure connectivity, namely transportation, energy and digital linkage, in
enhancing regional integration in the sub-region. The study identified financial bottlenecks,
structural problems, political instability as well as reluctant policy harmonization efforts as
main challenges that hindered regional integration effort. The study called for further
researches on the topic by identifying the social, economic and political challenges of
connectivity in the region by assessing the challenges, which each member states in the
region face in their intra-regional infrastructure connectivity.
Key words: Regional Integration, Infrastructure Connectivity, Horn of Africa, Challenges
and Opportunities
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Keywords
Regional Integration, Infrastructure Connectivity, Horn of Africa, Challenges and Opportunities