JACKLINE KICONCO: From a Corridor of Conflict to a Corridor of Development: Rethinking the Red Sea

What the report says

Watchdog Uganda published an opinion piece by Jackline Kiconco arguing that the Red Sea should be viewed not only as a flashpoint for conflict, but also as a potential engine for regional development. The article says the Bab El-Mandeb Strait and nearby waters have again become a security concern, citing attacks on shipping and a sharper drop in vessel traffic as companies seek safer routes.

Kiconco writes that the Red Sea links Africa and the Arab world through countries including Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, and that its strategic value extends beyond military and security debates. She argues that the route already matters for trade between Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Europe, but that insecurity raises costs, disrupts supply chains and affects import-dependent economies.

The piece urges leaders to think beyond protecting shipping lanes and to build a development agenda around ports, jobs, logistics training, renewable energy, fisheries, infrastructure and private-sector investment. It cites broader background from the World Bank’s regional development work, including corridor and food-security initiatives, as evidence that economic integration and resilience are already part of the policy conversation.

The author says African and Arab countries should treat the Red Sea as a shared corridor of prosperity, with young people included in designing that future rather than only benefiting from it later.