Total Project Cost
Investment Required
Stakeholders
Countries
Project Overview
Description
Construction of a paved road corridor connecting El Fasher, Kabkabiya, and El Geneina in Darfur (Sudan) to Adre at the Chad border, enhancing regional connectivity, supporting peace-building efforts, and improving humanitarian access in a historically marginalized region.
Objectives
Develop a modern paved road corridor connecting major population centers in Darfur with the Chad border; enhance regional accessibility and connectivity in a post-conflict context; support peace-building and stabilization efforts through improved infrastructure; facilitate humanitarian operations and access to essential services; enable economic recovery and development in conflict-affected regions; strengthen cross-border trade and cooperation between Sudan and Chad; reduce transportation costs and travel times in a region with severe infrastructure deficits; and create employment opportunities during construction and maintenance phases.
Strategic Importance
This road corridor represents a critical infrastructure initiative for peace-building, stabilization, and development in the conflict-affected Darfur region. By enhancing connectivity between major population centers and with neighboring Chad, the project directly supports implementation of peace agreements through tangible developmental benefits. The road will significantly improve humanitarian access in a region that has faced repeated crises, enhancing the effectiveness of both emergency response and longer-term development initiatives. From a regional perspective, the corridor will strengthen connectivity between Sudan and Chad, supporting cross-border cooperation and potentially contributing to regional stability. The project further addresses historical marginalization of Darfur through investment in basic infrastructure that has been lacking, contributing to more balanced national development.
Technical Specifications
Technology & Design
The road employs appropriate design for the semi-arid conditions of Darfur, with particular attention to drainage, climate resilience, and maintainability given limited local capacity. The design balances quality infrastructure with practical considerations for the challenging context.
Capacity & Size
Total corridor length approximately 450 km: El Fasher-Kabkabiya section: 135 km; Kabkabiya-El Geneina section: 205 km; El Geneina-Adre (border) section: 110 km; Two-lane paved highway with appropriate safety features; Key bridges at seasonal river crossings; Basic service facilities at major towns
Technical Details
Two-lane highway with 7.3m carriageway and 2m shoulders; Asphalt concrete surface with appropriate base layers for local conditions; Reinforced concrete bridges at major water crossings with scour protection; Enhanced drainage structures for flash flood protection; Basic roadside service facilities and rest areas; Design speed 80-100 km/h depending on terrain; Signing and safety features appropriate for local context and literacy levels
Development, Implementation & Financial Details
Development Timeline
Feasibility and detailed design (2020-2021); Financing arrangements (2021-2022); Construction (2022-2026)
Latest Implementation Updates
UPDATED2025-08-29 — UN Secretary-General's office notes siege and acute insecurity in North Darfur, signalling severe implementation constraints on the corridor. Link: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2025-08-29/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general-sudan
2025-05-13 — OCHA update on Adré border highlights seasonal flooding and impassable sections during rains; risks to construction/logistics schedules. Link: https://www.unocha.org/publications/report/sudan/sudan-adre-border-crossing-snapshot-may-2025
Financing Structure
The project is financed through a humanitarian-development-peace nexus approach with: World Bank grant funding through the International Development Association (IDA); Saudi Fund for Development grant; African Development Bank grant through Transition Support Facility; United Nations Development Programme contribution; and Government of Sudan counterpart funding. Financing is fully secured through a coordinated donor approach.
Capital Structure
Grant funding from development partners (95%) with limited government counterpart funding (5%), reflecting the fragile context
Project Timeline
Start Date
January 2020
Expected Completion
December 2026
Development Timeline
Feasibility and detailed design (2020-2021); Financing arrangements (2021-2022); Construction (2022-2026)
Project Status History
Status 2022
Financial Close
Status 2024
Financial Close
Additional Project Details
Preparation Funding Gap
USD 0.00M
Construction Timeline
El Fasher-Kabkabiya section: 2022-2024; Kabkabiya-El Geneina section: 2023-2025; El Geneina-Adre (border) section: 2024-2026
Legal & Financial Advisors
Rendel Limited (UK) providing technical supervision services; legal and financial services through World Bank implementation support
Market Analysis
Market Analysis
The region currently has minimal paved roads, with most transportation occurring on unpaved tracks that become impassable during rainy seasons. Travel times between major centers can exceed 12 hours for distances of 200-300 km, with significant insecurity risks. Humanitarian operations are severely constrained by poor accessibility, and economic activities are limited by high transportation costs and unreliability.
Market Demand
The road corridor will serve a population of approximately 3 million people in Darfur, with enhanced connectivity to Chad (population 16 million). Current traffic is constrained by poor conditions (200-300 vehicles daily), with projected growth to 1,500-2,000 vehicles daily following completion.
Key Stakeholders
Project Sponsor
Sudan Ministry of Transport and Roads, Darfur Regional Authority
Key Parties
Sudan Ministry of Transport and Roads, National Highways and Bridges Authority (Sudan), Darfur Regional Authority, Ministry of Infrastructure (Chad), United Nations Development Programme (implementation support)
Investors
World Bank, African Development Bank, Saudi Fund for Development, United Nations Development Programme
Contractors & Operators
China Gezhouba Group Corporation (main contractor) with local sub-contractors
Risk Assessment
General Risk Assessment
Key risks include: security challenges in certain sections; institutional capacity limitations; potential for renewed conflict impacting implementation; challenging procurement environment; environmental considerations including water resource management in a water-scarce region; and long-term maintenance sustainability. Risk mitigation involves comprehensive security management, significant capacity building components, conflict-sensitive implementation approaches, and robust environmental management.
Regulatory Risks
The project operates within a complex governance context, with coordination required between national, regional, and local authorities in a post-conflict setting. Specific attention is given to land acquisition procedures in areas with traditional land rights systems, coordination of security arrangements, and cross-border protocols for the border section.
Impact Assessment
Environmental Impact
The project has completed comprehensive Environmental and Social Impact Assessment with approved management plans currently under implementation. Key environmental considerations include management of scarce water resources during construction, materials sourcing in environmentally sensitive areas, dust control in populous areas, and climate resilience features including enhanced drainage for increasingly variable rainfall patterns.
Social Impact
The road corridor is generating approximately 2,500 direct jobs during construction, with specific targets for local employment to maximize peace-building benefits. Socioeconomic impacts include dramatically improved access to essential services (health, education, markets), enhanced humanitarian access, new economic opportunities through improved market connectivity, reduced isolation during rainy seasons, support for returnee communities, and tangible peace dividends demonstrating development progress.
Investment Opportunities
Private Sector Opportunities
While the main construction is underway with international contractors, opportunities exist for local businesses in: construction material supply; equipment rental; employment of local workers; maintenance operations through community-based approaches; roadside services development; and logistics operations once the corridor is complete.
Next Steps & Agreements
Next Steps
Complete ongoing construction of initial sections; enhance capacity of local contractors and workforce; strengthen maintenance planning and implementation; develop cross-border coordination mechanisms with Chad; monitor environmental and social management plan implementation
Offtake Agreements
The project operates under agreements between implementing partners (World Bank, UNDP) and national authorities, with specific maintenance commitments secured through the financing agreements. A dedicated maintenance fund will support operations for the initial 5 years following completion.
Contact Information
Eng. Hashim Ibn Auf, Minister of Transport and Roads, Sudan, Email: info@motr.gov.sd; Dr. Adam Mohamed, Director General, Darfur Regional Authority, Email: dra@sudan.gov.sd
