# Egal Airport Upgrades Reported at 2015 Commissioning

> What Somaliland Sun reported on 2015-05-29 about Egal Airport upgrades, and what the report does not establish about what has happened since.

- By: Editorial Team, Somali Construction Review (https://somaliconstructionreview.com/about)
- Published: 1 October 2026
- Format: News story (reported from one named public source)
- Publication: Somali Construction Review (https://somaliconstructionreview.com)
- Subject: Infrastructure and Services
- Tags: utilities, drainage
- Web version: https://somaliconstructionreview.com/blog/egal-airport-2015-upgrades-report

## Key points

- On 29 May 2015, Somaliland Sun reported President Silanyo commissioned a 3.7km runway, 13km security fence, and firefighting equipment at Egal Airport.
- The report attributes runway funding to Kuwait and quotes Minister Hashi on ICAO standards and a future class 10 runway.
- The report does not establish what has happened at Egal Airport since the 2015 ceremony, including traffic, certification, or further works.

On 29 May 2015, Somaliland Sun reported that President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud "Silanyo" commissioned a 3.7km runway, a 13km square security perimeter fence, and firefighting equipment at Egal Airport in Hargeisa. The report described the event as the culmination of three years of upgrading, with President Silanyo cutting a ribbon to open the runway extension.

The runway extension was funded by the Kuwaiti government, according to Somaliland Sun. The report stated the extension would allow the airport's runway to accommodate every type of commercial aircraft in the world, including the Airbus A380. President Silanyo separately thanked the Emir of Kuwait, Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and the Kuwaiti government for donating funds for the renovation and rehabilitation of both Egal and Berbera airports.

Minister of Civil Aviation and Air Transport Mohamoud Hashi Abdi spoke at the ceremony. According to Somaliland Sun, Hashi said the runway had been extended by 1.25km from a previous 2,466m runway. The report said the new extended runway is 3,700 metres long and would make Egal the third longest runway in east Africa, though Hashi was also quoted as saying it would be the second longest in eastern Africa.

Hashi stated that the Somaliland Civil Aviation and Air Transport had followed ICAO standards and recommended practices. Egal airport was class 2 by ICAO when the current government came to power, is now class 7, and will be class 10 when finally completed, according to the minister's statements in the Somaliland Sun report.

The report described additional works. The apron is 1,410m and is being extended by 100 x 50 metres, with an additional taxiway and night-landing lighting. Two firefighting vehicles were imported from the UK through funds made available by the Ministry of Finance, Hashi said. One falls under Category 9 Rescue with aircraft rescue and firefighting capability.

What the Somaliland Sun report does not establish is what has happened at Egal Airport since the 2015 commissioning ceremony. The report provides no post-2015 traffic, certification, maintenance, further works, funding, or status update. No contract, tender, award, budget document, or independent audit is cited for any of the works. No contractor, consultant, or procurement record is named. No total project cost, contract value, or funding amount is given.

The report's own details indicate that not all works were complete at the time of the ceremony: the apron was still being extended, and the class 10 runway was described as a future target.

> **Note:** Somaliland Sun's report is the sole source for these claims. No independent verification of the runway length, rankings, ICAO compliance, or A380 capability is provided.

## What the source reported

- President Silanyo commissioned a 3.7km runway, 13km security fence, and firefighting equipment on 2015-05-29, according to Somaliland Sun.
- The runway extension was funded by the Kuwaiti government, per the report.
- Minister Hashi said the runway was extended by 1.25km, the apron was 1,410m and being extended, and two UK-imported firefighting vehicles were funded by the Ministry of Finance.
- The minister stated Egal was class 2 under ICAO, is now class 7, and will be class 10 when completed.

## What the report does not establish

- What has happened at Egal Airport since the 2015 ceremony.
- Any independent verification of ICAO standards, runway length, east Africa ranking, or A380 capability.
- Any total cost, contract value, contractor, or procurement record.
- That all upgrading works were complete: the apron extension and class 10 runway were ongoing or future.

## Questions

### Which international standards were met at Egal Airport?

According to Minister Mohamoud Hashi Abdi, as reported by Somaliland Sun, the Somaliland Civil Aviation and Air Transport followed ICAO standards and recommended practices. The report does not cite an independent audit or ICAO certification record.

### What upgrades were made at Egal Airport?

Somaliland Sun reported a 3.7km runway, 13km security fence, firefighting equipment, apron extension, taxiway, and night-landing lighting. The apron extension and class 10 runway were not complete as of the report.

### What are the future plans for Egal Airport?

Minister Hashi stated the runway will be class 10 'when finally completed', but no timeline or post-2015 plans are given in the Somaliland Sun report.

## Sources

- [Somaliland: Egal Airport Attains International Standards](https://somalilandsun.com/somaliland-egal-airport-attains-international-standards/) — Somaliland Sun, 2015-05-29