# Egal Airport Phase II Launched in 2014, Records Unclear

> Somaliland Sun reported a Phase II launch at Egal International Airport on 16 February 2014, with a 1.5km addition and two buildings.

- 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: ports, utilities
- Web version: https://somaliconstructionreview.com/blog/egal-airport-phase-ii-launch-2014

## Key points

- Somaliland Sun reported on 2014-02-16 that Somaliland launched a second phase of modernization works at Egal International Airport, an addition of another 1.5km and two multi-purpose buildings funded by the Kuwait government.
- Aviation Minister Hon. Mahmud Hashi said the expansion work would take six months commencing from 1st March 2014, according to the same report.
- The 2014 report does not establish a contractor, a contract value or a funding agreement for Phase II, and it provides no completion record.

On 16 February 2014, Somaliland Sun reported that Somaliland had launched a second phase of modernization works at Egal International Airport. The report, attributed to officials speaking at a launch function, is the only record of the event in the evidence available, and it does not establish what has happened at the airport since that date.

According to Somaliland Sun, Vice President Hon. Abdirahman Abdilahi Sayli revealed the launch at a function at the city-based airport attended by stakeholders from government, donors, legislators and members of the public. The same report says the modernization would add another 1.5km and two multi-purpose buildings funded by the Kuwait government. It does not say what the additional 1.5km is.

## Timeline and first-phase figure

Aviation Minister Hon. Mahmud Hashi said the expansion work would take six months commencing from 1st March 2014, according to Somaliland Sun. That gives a stated start date and a stated duration, not an outcome.

The same report also records a first-phase figure: a Kuwaiti-funded project worth 10 million dollars whose beneficiaries included Berbera airport, and which saw the Egal airport runway elongated, making it possible for large airlines to use the route where previously only small aircraft did. Somaliland Sun does not specify whether the 10 million dollars is project value, contract value or total cost, and no independent confirmation of the figure or of the runway work is recorded.

## What the record does not show

The same 2014 report covers more than the airport. Somaliland Sun reported, citing the Somaliland government's claim, that the government had acquired machinery and funds for a 375km tarmac road linking Erigavo and Burao. Vice President Sayli announced that heavy plants such as bulldozers and rollers were due in the country within days, and referred to farming tractors geared towards a consignment incoming from China. The report does not establish that any of the machinery or tractors arrived.

For Phase II itself, the report identifies no contractor, consultant, engineer or implementing agency. It names no Kuwaiti government entity or fund, and records no financing agreement and no disbursement. There is no cost figure, contract value or funding amount for Phase II in the report. The government thanked the Kuwaiti government for continued funding and promised to use the donation as planned, according to the report, which is a commitment as reported, not a payment.

The six-month period from 1st March 2014 is long past. The 2014 report provides no completion record, no confirmation that works started, and no basis for describing the airport's status after 2014-02-16.

## Questions

### What specific upgrades are part of Phase II?

Somaliland Sun reported on 2014-02-16 that the modernization would add another 1.5km and two multi-purpose buildings funded by the Kuwait government. The report does not say what the additional 1.5km is.

### Who is the contractor?

The 2014 report names no contractor, consultant, engineer or implementing agency for the Phase II works.

### What is the expected completion timeline?

Aviation Minister Hon. Mahmud Hashi said the expansion work would take six months commencing from 1st March 2014, according to Somaliland Sun. No completion record is available.

## Sources

- [Somaliland: Egal International in Phase II of Modernization Works](https://somalilandsun.com/somaliland-egal-international-in-phase-ii-of-modernization-works/) — Somaliland Sun, 2014-02-16