# DP World refutes Guelleh claim of no Berbera development

> On 2020-12-06 DP World said President Guelleh's claim of no development at Berbera port was false, citing $442m investment and 70% completion.

- 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: Infrastructure and Services
- Tags: ports, drainage
- Web version: https://somaliconstructionreview.com/blog/dp-world-refutes-guelleh-berbera-claim

## Key points

- DP World on 2020-12-06 rejected President Guelleh's claim that no progress had been made at Berbera port.
- The operator said it had committed $442 million and completed 70% of that investment.
- Somali Dispatch reported the Somaliland government had not yet responded as of that date.

On 6 December 2020, Somali Dispatch reported that DP World, the operator and investor of Berbera port in Somaliland, had issued a statement rejecting claims by Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh that no development had taken place at the port.

President Guelleh, in an interview with The Africa Report, said DP World had made no progress or investment at Berbera. "DP World excels at creating buzz but then, in the end, nothing happens," he was quoted as saying. "You don’t even see a crane erected."

DP World described those remarks as inaccurate, false and not based on any reasonable insights the president could have, according to Somali Dispatch. The company said it is committed to investing $442 million in the development of the port, 70% of which has been completed. The investment, DP World said, will increase capacity by 500,000 TEUs per year.

As evidence of progress, DP World said it completed a new 400m addition to the new container terminal in August 2020 and installed a new lift. Construction of the terminal is expected to be completed in March next year, the company said.

Somali Dispatch reported that the government of President Muse Bihi had not yet responded to President Guelleh's assertions. The report does not establish what has happened at Berbera since that date, and it does not independently verify DP World's investment figures or the completion status of the works.

> **Note:** All statements about DP World's investment amount, completion percentage, completed works, and expected completion are attributed to DP World as reported by Somali Dispatch. President Guelleh's remarks are attributed to him as quoted by Somali Dispatch.

## Questions

### What were President Guelleh's exact claims about Berbera port?

President Guelleh said DP World had not made any progress or investment at Berbera port, and that no crane had been erected.

### What evidence does DP World provide to counter those claims?

DP World says it has committed $442 million, completed 70% of that investment, completed a 400m addition to the container terminal in August 2020, and installed a new lift.

### What is the current status of Berbera port expansion?

As of 2020-12-06, DP World says terminal construction is expected to be completed in March next year, but no independent verification is available.

## Sources

- [DP World: President Guelleh’s claim that there is no development at Berbera port is false](https://www.somalidispatch.com/latest-news/dp-world-president-guellehs-claim-that-there-is-no-development-at-berbera-port-is-false/) — Somali Dispatch, 2020-12-06