In brief
- On 28 February 2019, Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi, Somali region of Ethiopia President Mustafa Muhumed Omar and ADFD Deputy Director General Khalifa Al Qubaisi inaugurated the 245km road linking Berbera port to Ethiopia, Horn Diplomat reported.
- The report does not establish whether the road was completed or opened to traffic, nor does it provide any information on the project's status after that date.
- The road is part of a broader deal that includes a $442 million port investment and a 30-year DP World concession for Berbera port.
On 28 February 2019, Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi, Somali region of Ethiopia President Mustafa Muhumed Omar and Khalifa Al Qubaisi, Deputy Director General of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), inaugurated the 245km road construction linking Berbera port to Ethiopia, according to a report by Horn Diplomat, bylined to Mohamed Duale.
Horn Diplomat's report does not establish whether the event was a groundbreaking or a completion ceremony. The word "inaugurated" is ambiguous, and the article provides no details on the road's construction status, its contractor, or its exact cost.
The road is part of a broader agreement that includes $442 million for upgrading the existing Berbera Port and building a new adjacent container port, Horn Diplomat reported. The deal also calls for "millions of dollars more" for the road from Berbera to the Ethiopian border town of Wajale, but the report does not give a road-specific figure.
The construction of the Berbera corridor was part of a deal giving DP World a 30-year concession to develop and manage Berbera port, according to Horn Diplomat. The agreement created a new company to manage the port, with DP World holding 51% ownership, Somaliland 30%, and Ethiopia 19%.
The report includes official statements. Somaliland President Muse Bihi said Somaliland was ready to serve Ethiopia, which he described as one of the fastest growing countries in the world with forecast GDP growth of 8.2% in 2018. The Somali region president, referred to as Mustafe Cagjar in one quote and Mustafa Muhumed Omar elsewhere in the article, said he promotes economic integration because Somaliland's largest market is the Somali Region of Ethiopia.
Horn Diplomat stated that the expanded Berbera port and new road will give the Ethiopian government and business community increased capacity to import and export merchandise.
The report provides no information about the road project's status after 28 February 2019. It is unclear whether construction has begun, progressed, or been completed. The date of the inauguration event is not explicitly stated, though 28 February 2019 was a Thursday.
Horn Diplomat's article is the sole source for this report and carries the attribution: Horn Diplomat, by Mohamed Duale, 28 February 2019.
Frequently asked questions
What is the exact route of the 245km road?
The road links Berbera port to Ethiopia, specifically to the Ethiopian border town of Wajale, according to Horn Diplomat.
What are the financing arrangements for the road?
Horn Diplomat reported the project is part of a broader agreement that includes $442 million for port infrastructure and 'millions of dollars more' for the road, but no road-specific cost or funding source is given.
What is the construction timeline for the road?
Horn Diplomat's report on 28 February 2019 does not provide a construction timeline, start date, or expected completion date.