In brief
- On 9 October 2014, Somaliland Sun published an op-ed by Idiris Mahmud Abdi calling for a national fundraise to rebuild the badly damaged Erigavo road.
- The op-ed describes vehicle overturns, livestock losses, and Sanaag's isolation, but it is an opinion piece with no engineering or official data.
- The report does not establish what, if anything, has happened since publication.
On 9 October 2014, Somaliland Sun reported an opinion piece by Idiris Mahmud Abdi titled "Somaliland: Rebuilding Erigavo Road Has Multidimensional Significances." The article argued that the road, which it said "had been badly damaged for a long time," deserved a national fundraise to be rebuilt.
The op-ed offered vivid accounts of the road's condition. It reported that "holes and rocks formed in the middle of the road easily overturned plenty of cars." It also claimed that "properties like livestock and other commodities are destroyed when heavy trucks overturn." One passenger, Sa'ed Garaad, was quoted as saying the journey from Erigavo to Burao was "not reliable; it is really dangerous. I really worried a lot during my last journey."
Beyond safety, the author contended that the road's poor state "almost cut off Sanaag community from the rest of the country." According to the op-ed, Sanaag has no road access to Somaliland's cities and ports. Instead, the author asserted, beeyo, sheep, and goats from Sanaag are exported through Puntland ports because they are more accessible, while commodities are imported from those same ports. The author speculated that the government missed tax revenue because trade bypassed Somaliland.
The piece proposed that rebuilding the road would boost the economy, reduce accidents, and encourage social interaction. It highlighted Sanaag's tourist potential, mentioning Taleeh, Daalo, Surad, and Golis mountain chains. The author argued that improved access would have drawn visitors and generated local income from rentals and services.
Frequently asked questions
Has any reconstruction or repair of the Erigavo road begun since 2014?
The 2014 op-ed does not establish any action. It called for rebuilding but provided no evidence of subsequent construction, tenders, contracts, funding, or government plans.
Is there a government plan or budget for the Erigavo road?
None is mentioned in the op-ed. It advocated for a national fundraise but gave no details on any official plan or budget.
What is the current condition of the road?
The op-ed described the road as badly damaged in 2014, with overturned vehicles and livestock losses. It contains no current condition data or updates.