Somalia Announces $20 Million Road and Bridge Project in Hargeisa as Somaliland Remains Silent
Somalia’s federal government says it is planning a nearly $20 million infrastructure project in Hargeisa, including a new road and work on the city’s main bridge, but Somaliland has yet to comment on the proposal.
MOGADISHU (Somali Report) — Somalia’s Federal Government has announced plans for a major infrastructure project in Hargeisa, including the construction of a new road and work on the city’s main bridge, in a development that could carry significant political implications amid the longstanding dispute between Mogadishu and Somaliland.
Somalia’s Minister of Public Works, Reconstruction and Housing, Ayuub Ismail Yusuf, said the government has begun signing agreements for the design and feasibility study of an economic infrastructure project that is expected to be implemented in Hargeisa.
According to Yusuf, the proposed project includes a road stretching nearly 45 kilometers, with the first phase covering approximately 23 kilometers beginning in Hargeisa. The first phase also includes work on Hargeisa’s main bridge, known locally as Buundaweyn, with the overall cost expected to approach $20 million.
Yusuf said the initiative is part of the Nagaad Project, an infrastructure programme being implemented by Somalia’s Ministry of Public Works across federal member states with financial support from the World Bank and other international partners.
The minister also said the Federal Government is overseeing approximately 89 kilometers of road projects across Jubbaland, Southwest State, Galmudug, Hirshabelle, Puntland and Somaliland as part of a broader effort to improve economic infrastructure.
An Unusual Development
If implemented, the Hargeisa project would represent an unusual development given Somaliland’s longstanding claim to independence from Somalia, which it declared in 1991.
Somaliland operates its own government, security forces, currency and institutions but remains largely unrecognized internationally as a sovereign state.
The prospect of Somalia’s Federal Government directly implementing a major infrastructure project in Hargeisa, Somaliland’s capital, could therefore carry considerable political significance. The two sides have had limited cooperation in recent years, with Somaliland consistently maintaining that it is an independent state and rejecting initiatives it considers to imply political subordination to Mogadishu.
Somaliland Yet to Comment
The announcement currently comes solely from Somalia’s Federal Government and domestic Somali media reports.
Somaliland authorities have yet to publicly comment on the proposed project or confirm whether they have agreed to its implementation.
Somali Report has also not independently verified whether a formal agreement has been reached between Mogadishu and Hargeisa covering the project. Efforts to obtain confirmation from relevant officials have so far been unsuccessful.
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Without confirmation from Somaliland, it remains unclear whether the proposed development has received approval from authorities in Hargeisa or whether the Federal Government intends to proceed without a formal agreement.
Mogadishu-Hargeisa Tensions
The announcement comes against a backdrop of continued political tensions between Mogadishu and Hargeisa.
Somaliland has repeatedly accused the Federal Government of interfering in areas it considers to fall within its territorial jurisdiction. Mogadishu, meanwhile, maintains that Somaliland is part of Somalia and continues to pursue a federal political framework covering the country.
More recently, the Federal Government recognized and supported the establishment of a new federal member state in northeastern Somalia, a move strongly criticized by Somaliland, which argues that parts of the territory concerned fall within its claimed borders.
Against this backdrop, a Federal Government-backed infrastructure project in Hargeisa could become politically sensitive, particularly if Somaliland authorities view the initiative as an assertion of Mogadishu’s jurisdiction.
Recognition Debate
The proposed project also comes amid renewed international attention to Somaliland’s status.
Somaliland has maintained separate political and administrative institutions since 1991 and has held several competitive elections and peaceful transfers of power. However, it remains unrecognized as a sovereign state by the United Nations and most countries.
Supporters argue that Somaliland’s relative stability, democratic institutions and security record strengthen its case for international recognition, while Somalia continues to reject Somaliland’s independence claim and uphold its territorial integrity.
For now, the proposed Hargeisa road and bridge project remains at the planning and feasibility stage. Its implementation, funding arrangements and relationship with authorities in Hargeisa remain unclear.
Whether the $20 million project moves forward will depend in part on further clarification from both Mogadishu and Hargeisa, with Somaliland yet to issue a public response.
About the Author
Aden Warsame is a Senior Reporter at Somali Report, covering politics, security, diplomacy, business, and regional affairs across Somalia and the Horn of Africa.