# Chongqin Foreign corruption claims resurface in Somaliland report

> A 2019 Somaliland Standard column alleges misconduct by CICO, but evidence of current status is absent.

- By: Editorial Team, Somali Construction Review (https://somaliconstructionreview.com/about)
- Published: 30 September 2026
- Format: News story (reported from one named public source)
- Publication: Somali Construction Review (https://somaliconstructionreview.com)
- Subject: Business and Costs
- Tags: contracts, underbidding
- Web version: https://somaliconstructionreview.com/blog/chongqin-foreign-corruption-claims-somaliland

## Key points

- On 28 September 2019, Somaliland Standard published allegations of corruption against Chongqin Foreign (International) Construction Corporation (CICO).
- The column reports an AfDB delisting of CICO and accusations from Uganda's PPDA, but provides no verifiable evidence.
- It does not establish whether CICO has been awarded the Hargeisa Bypass Road project or any development since publication.

On 28 September 2019, Somaliland Standard published an article titled "Somaliland: The Chongqin Foreign and the Corruption-Polluted Contracts," alleging a pattern of misconduct by Chongqin Foreign (International) Construction Corporation (CICO), a Chinese state-owned firm. The column, authored by an individual claiming affiliation with Anti-Corruption International, makes serious accusations but presents no verifiable evidence, and no official confirmation of recent developments has been documented since.

The article reports that the African Development Bank delisted CICO on 22 August 2017 after an investigation found fraudulent activities on bank-funded projects. According to the report, CICO falsely claimed work experience that later proved nonexistent. It also states that construction by the firm was suspended for one year.

The column further claims CICO subcontracted to a newly established firm called DCI to bypass its reputation, and that a firm named EUTAW received a road construction contract and immediately subcontracted 100% of the works to CICO, which the article says was against the law. The Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority of Uganda accused CICO of "tinkering" and sought prosecution for violating procurement laws.

The piece suggests concern among independent observers and foreign investors that CICO might use deception to win the Hargeisa Bypass Road (Route 200) project, described as part of the Berbera seaport link to Ethiopia's market. However, the article does not show that CICO has been awarded that contract or that it is currently involved beyond shortlisting.

No specific project names, dates, values, or contracting authorities are provided for the alleged backdoor contracts across East Africa. The AfDB delisting is mentioned without a link to the bank's official record, and the author's affiliation is a self-claim without independent verification.

> **Note:** The report is an opinion column. It does not establish that CICO is guilty of corruption, that the Hargeisa Bypass Road is funded solely by DFID, or that any of the alleged activities have led to prosecutions or contract awards.

## Questions

### What did Somaliland Standard report about Chongqin Foreign in 2019?

On 28 September 2019, the publication alleged that CICO engaged in fraudulent activities, was delisted by the African Development Bank, and subcontracted work unlawfully.

### Has CICO been awarded the Hargeisa Bypass Road contract?

The article only raises concern that CICO could use deception to win the project; it does not provide evidence that the contract has been awarded.

### What evidence supports the corruption allegations against CICO?

The column offers no verifiable documents, court records, or official statements to support its claims.

## Sources

- [Somaliland: The Chongqin Foreign and the Corruption-Polluted Contracts](https://somalilandstandard.com/somaliland-the-chongqin-foreign-and-the-corruption-polluted-contracts/) — Somaliland Standard, 2019-09-28