Burao airport renovation and reconstruction works under way, July 5 report says

On July 5, 2023, Somaliland Standard reported that renovation and reconstruction works have been going on at Burao airport in Togdeer region.

The report tied the works to a visit by Mr. Omar Sayid, Head of the Somaliland Civil Aviation Authority, who toured the airport. Somaliland Standard reported that the purpose of his visit was to inspect and monitor the renovation and repair works so that the airport can resume operations.

What officials said

Mr. Omar Sayid, the Head of the Somaliland Civil Aviation Authority, said, per Somaliland Standard's 2023-07-05 report, that the policy of the government is to have all regional airports and airstrips well functioning.

Mr. Omar Sayid Abdillahi said, per the same report, that the policy of the country's Aviation Authority and Airports to make local airports functional is in process, with Erigavo having been accomplished.

Burao Airport director Abdirisaaq Noor Araale said, per the report, that the landing area of Burao Airport has been increased by 600 metres. He also said, per the report, that a modern communication system that can communicate with planes in the Horn of Africa has been installed. He also said, per the report, that the airport is staffed by trained personnel from Ethiopia.

These are claims by the airport director. The report does not present independent verification of the 600-metre increase, the communications system installation or the staffing by Ethiopian personnel.

What the report does not establish

Somaliland Standard's report does not state a start date for the works, name a contractor, consultant, developer or client, or identify a funder. It gives no contract value, budget or total project cost. It gives no completion date or target date. It does not describe the scope of works, and it does not give a baseline length for the runway or landing area before the claimed 600-metre increase.

The report does not state the airport's current operating status. Its statement that the works are aimed at allowing the airport to resume operations implies the airport was not fully operational at the time, but the report does not state that as a fact, and it does not state that the airport has since resumed operations or is fully operational.

Nor does the report establish what has happened at Burao airport since July 5, 2023, whether the works continued or stopped, or how much of the work it described has been delivered.

The policy context

The statements from the Civil Aviation Authority head place Burao within a stated policy of making regional airports and airstrips functional. The report offers Erigavo as an example described as accomplished, without giving a date or an assessment of its current condition. It does not say how many other airports or airstrips are covered by the policy or what stage they are at.