In brief
- Somaliland Sun on 6 June 2020 raised concerns about the Berbera corridor's slow progress, reporting only 5% completion after 14 months.
- The publication noted the project was announced with a 26-month duration ending May 2021.
- It did not establish what has happened since its report; no official verification or update is provided.
On 6 June 2020, the news outlet Somaliland Sun reported questions surrounding the progress of the Berbera corridor project, a road infrastructure initiative inaugurated on 1 March 2019, according to the publication. Somaliland Sun reported that the Somaliland president laid the cornerstone at the inauguration.
According to Somaliland Sun, the project duration was announced as 26 months, ending May 2021. Fourteen months into that timeline, the publication stated, only 5% had been accomplished. That figure was attributed to Mohammed Yousuf, who wrote in an Op-Ed published by Somaliland Sun.
A photo caption in the same report noted that President Bihi inspected a 12 km completed stretch of the Berbera corridor. However, the report does not provide official verification of that completion or reconcile it with the Op-Ed author's 5% claim.
The report also does not identify the contractors, the main contractor, the total road length, or the funding details beyond a mention of gratitude for the Emirates, attributed to Mohammed Yousuf. It does not state whether the 12 km stretch was part of an earlier 45-day target mentioned elsewhere in the report.
The publication does not establish what has happened since 6 June 2020. No official progress report, schedule update, or independent assessment is cited. The concerns raised by the Op-Ed author, including a claimed one-year delay, remain unverified in the report.
As of the publication date, the Berbera corridor's status beyond the reported inspections and the author's claims is unknown. Somaliland Sun's report signals questions from within Somaliland about the pace of work and oversight, but it does not provide answers.
Frequently asked questions
What are the reported concerns about the Berbera corridor?
Somaliland Sun on 6 June 2020 reported that only 5% of the project was accomplished after 14 months, according to an Op-Ed by Mohammed Yousuf.
Which sections of the Berbera corridor are delayed?
The report does not specify which sections are delayed. It mentions a 12 km stretch inspected by President Bihi, but does not confirm its completion timeline.
What are the reasons for slow progress on the Berbera corridor?
The report does not provide official reasons for the slow progress. It includes an opinion that contractors should be watched, but this is not an official explanation.