In brief
- On 29 April 2021, Somaliland President Musa Bihi Abdi inspected progress on a new bridge under construction on the Hargeisa–Berbera highway, according to Somaliland Standard.
- Officials at the site assured the president the bridge would be completed; foreign engineers said other bridges on the road would also be accomplished. President Bihi set a target of end-2021 for major bridges.
- The report does not establish what has happened since that date, nor does it identify a contractor, cost, start date or confirmed completion.
On 29 April 2021, Somaliland Standard reported that President Musa Bihi Abdi had inspected work progress on a new bridge under construction on the highway between Hargeisa and Berbera.
The president toured the construction site with a ministerial delegation and met construction workers, who briefed him on the development and completion of the bridge building, according to the same report.
Officials at the bridge construction site assured President Bihi that the bridge would be completed, as the project is part of the Berbera corridor highway. Foreign engineers who are part of the Berbera Corridor highway team said that other bridges on the road between Hargeisa and Berbera would also be accomplished.
President Bihi said the major bridges that are part of the Hargeisa–Berbera highway would be completed at the end of 2021. He described the bridge as a huge achievement for the realisation of the Berbera Corridor Highway and crucial for the movement of traffic.
A statement from the Somaliland Presidency, as reported by Somaliland Standard, said the Da’ar Budhuq bridge is 105 metres long. It is not clear from the report whether the bridge inspected is the same as Da’ar Budhuq, or whether that name applies to one of the other bridges mentioned.
The report does not name a contractor, consultant, client, funder or implementing agency for the bridge. No contract value, total cost or budget figure is given. No construction start date is stated, and the end-2021 date is a presidential target, not a confirmed completion.
Somaliland Standard’s report of 29 April 2021 does not establish what has happened since that date, whether the bridge was completed, or the status of any related works.
Frequently asked questions
Which specific bridge was inspected on 29 April 2021?
Somaliland Standard reported that President Bihi inspected a new bridge under construction on the Hargeisa–Berbera highway. The same report separately mentions a bridge named Da’ar Budhuq with a length of 105 metres, but does not clarify whether this is the inspected bridge or another structure.
What was the reported progress and quality of work?
The report described the construction site as “smoothly progressing well” but gave no quantitative progress, completion percentage or quality assessment.
What is the ongoing schedule and remaining tasks?
President Bihi said the major bridges that are part of the Hargeisa–Berbera highway would be completed at the end of 2021. The report provides no other schedule details, and no later reporting is included.
Who is the contractor and how is performance assessed?
The report does not name a contractor, consultant or implementing agency for the bridge, nor does it describe any performance assessment method.