In brief
- On 4 December 2019, Somaliland Standard reported that the first 10 km of the Berbera-Wajale corridor highway was expected to be completed by January 2020, according to the Minister of Transport and Road Development.
- NBHH, the company involved in the project, said it planned to complete up to 10 km by January 2020 and was working with the Abu Dhabi Development Fund and the Somaliland government.
- The report provides no information on what happened after 4 December 2019, including whether the January 2020 or May 2021 targets were met.
On 4 December 2019, Somaliland Standard reported that the first 10 kilometres of the Berbera-Wajale corridor highway were expected to be completed by January 2020, according to Abdullahi Abokor Osman, Minister of Transport and Road Development of Somaliland. The minister cited engineers working on the project when he said, "the first ten kilometers of the Berbera Corridor is expected to be completed by January 2020 (Insha Allah)."
That same day, Eng. Abdikarem Omer, the top engineer in the ministry, said major road works had started between Hargeisa and Dacar-Budhuq and that 20 km completion was expected by mid-January 2020. Nael & Bin Harmal Hydroexpor Establishment (NBHH), the company involved in the construction, said it planned to complete up to 10 km by January 2020. The source did not reconcile the differing 10 km and 20 km figures.
NBHH said it was working through the Abu Dhabi Development Fund and in partnership with the Government of Somaliland, Ministry of Transport and Road Development. The company also said it had been running the project for three months and was working with six Somaliland contractors. It planned to increase the speed of construction and start the second phase from Dacar-Budhuq to Berbera, then proceed from Kala-baydh to Wajale.
Minister Osman said the project was scheduled to be completed by May 2021 and that work had been in place for six months as of 4 December 2019. He also said an alternative road was built in the previous four months. The minister said the new road would be 11.3 metres wide with an 8-metre carriageway, compared with the old 7-metre-wide road, and that it was being built in accordance with international road standards with road signs, safety signs and side protection. The government said it would not allow roadworks that did not meet international standards.
No financial figures for the project were provided in the Somaliland Standard article. The article did not name the six Somaliland contractors, clarify NBHH's specific contractual role, or provide details on the alternative road. The report, published on 4 December 2019, contains no information on what has happened since then, including whether the first 10 km were completed by January 2020 or whether the May 2021 completion target was met.
Frequently asked questions
What was the expected completion date for the first 10 km of the Berbera-Wajale corridor highway?
As of 4 December 2019, the Minister of Transport and Road Development said the first 10 km were expected to be completed by January 2020. NBHH also planned to complete up to 10 km by January 2020.
Who is building the Berbera-Wajale corridor highway?
Nael & Bin Harmal Hydroexpor Establishment (NBHH) is involved in the construction. NBHH said it was working with six Somaliland contractors and in partnership with the Government of Somaliland.
Is the Berbera-Wajale corridor highway completed?
The Somaliland Standard article from 4 December 2019 provides no information on what happened after that date. It did not report the completion of the first 10 km or the full project.