Bishoftu, Ethiopia, 15 July 2026: Ethiopia and Djibouti have agreed on a joint roadmap to operationalise the Galafi One-Stop Border Post (OSBP), advancing reforms and reinforcing commitment to improve border management processes along the Ethiopia-Djibouti Corridor; the primary gateway for more than 95% of Ethiopia’s import and export trade by volume.
The agreement marks a major implementation milestone under the programme Promoting Regional Economic Integration in the Horn of Africa through the Development of the Djibouti Corridor, financed by the European Union (EU) through the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and implemented by TradeMark Africa (TMA) in partnership with the Governments of Ethiopia and Djibouti. The Djibouti-Ethiopia corridor is a pivotal trade route under the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy and Team Europe initiative for the Horn of Africa, which aims to strengthen sustainable and reliable regional connectivity. The programme therefore supports corridor development through investments in governance, integrated border management, digital trade systems, including electronic phytosanitary certification (e-Phyto) and trade facilitation reforms aimed at improving the efficiency, predictability and competitiveness of cross-border trade.
The roadmap was developed during the first bilateral two-day technical workshop in Bishoftu, Ethiopia, bringing together government agencies and border management institutions alongside development partners. The workshop established a shared framework for the legal, institutional and operational actions required to operationalise the Galafi OSBP. Located along the National Road 1 (RN1) in Djibouti, which connects with Ethiopia’s A1 highway, the Galafi border post forms the backbone of the Ethiopia-Djibouti Corridor. The route links the Port of Djibouti to Ethiopia and serves as the country’s principal international trade gateway.
Once operational, the OSBP will enable customs, immigration and other border agencies from both countries to undertake a single clearance process. This will reduce procedure duplication, shorten clearance times and increase predictability of cargo movement. Resultantly, these reforms will strengthen regional connectivity, enhance competitiveness of the corridor and create expanded opportunities for accessing regional and international markets.
Ewnetu Taye Chufa, Country Director for Ethiopia at TradeMark Africa, reiterated that the roadmap marks an important shift from policy commitment to implementation.
“The continued support of the European Union through AFD has been instrumental in advancing these reforms. Together with the Governments of Ethiopia and Djibouti, we have established a practical roadmap to operationalise the Galafi One-Stop Border Post and strengthen the systems that enable faster border clearance, lower trade costs and more efficient movement of goods along the corridor. The focus now is on implementation. TradeMark Africa will continue working with both governments to translate these commitments into measurable improvements in border efficiency, trade facilitation and corridor performance.”
Implementation will be supported through a joint Ethiopia-Djibouti capacity-building initiative to harmonise border procedures, strengthen inter-agency coordination and equip frontline border officials with the skills, systems and institutional capacity required to operate the OSBP effectively.
The workshop also drew on Ethiopia’s experience at the Moyale One Stop Border Post on the Kenya border, where coordinated border controls have improved operational cooperation and border efficiency. According to the Overseas Development Institute (2023), One Stop Border Posts across East Africa have reduced border crossing times by between 62% and 87%, underlining the contribution of coordinated border management to faster and more efficient trade.