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In brief
- The African Development Bank's November 2025 appraisal report states that the government prioritised Lot 2 Section 1, the 66.5 km Galkayo-Xarfo road in Puntland, for civil works.
- The same paragraph names Lot 1 Section 2, Dhusamareb-Qarathi in Galmudug, as the other prioritised section.
- The report gives road lengths and lot boundaries as designed and does not name contractors or state whether works have started.
Contents
The African Development Bank's project appraisal report for the Somalia road infrastructure programme additional financing, dated November 2025, says the government prioritised Lot 2 Section 1, the 66.5 km Galkayo-Xarfo road in Puntland, for the civil works component, together with Lot 1 Section 2, Dhusamareb-Qarathi in Galmudug. The statement sits in paragraphs 2 to 4 of the background section.
What the source records
The report sets out the programme as four Lots across Somalia's federal member states, targeting 347 km of roads, 167 km paved and 180 km gravel, according to African Development Bank. Lot 2 covers Section 1 (Galkayo-Xarfo, 66.5 km) and Section 2 (South Jalam-North Jalam, 18.5 km) in Puntland. The report gives the original programme's approval date as 19 July 2019 and original financing of UA 45.665 million, and states that a contract for civil works on Lot 1, Section 2 has been signed.
What it means on site
For a builder or supplier along the corridor, the practical question is which section has a signed contract and which is only prioritised. The report links the prioritisation to regional connectivity, trade and agriculture, and to serving densely populated areas, so enquiries about scope should be tied to the design for Lot 2 Section 1 as drawn. A yard, camp or materials supplier can ask the implementing agency for the bill of quantities and the design drawings for that section before quoting. Treat the 66.5 km figure as the designed length.
What the source does not establish
The report names the prioritised sections but does not name contractors for Lot 2 Section 1, does not state that civil works have begun there, and gives lengths and lot boundaries as designed rather than as built. Its date is the as-of date: it does not describe the present condition of the road or what has happened since November 2025. Approval and disbursement steps follow the report. A signed contract, a site possession record or a supervision mission report would confirm the current state.
What to do next
Ask the implementing agency which office holds the procurement record for Lot 2 Section 1, and request the contract award notice for that section. Ask separately whether a contractor has taken possession of the site. Confirm the designed length against the issued drawings before pricing anything.
Frequently asked questions
Has construction started on the Galkayo-Xarfo road?
The November 2025 appraisal report does not say. It states that the government prioritised the section for civil works and that a contract has been signed for Lot 1 Section 2, Dhusamareb-Qarathi. No contract award is recorded for Lot 2 Section 1 in the passages cited.
How long is the Galkayo-Xarfo section?
The report gives it as 66.5 km, as designed, forming Section 1 of Lot 2 in Puntland. Confirm the figure against the issued design drawings.
Sources
Local reporting: this article is written for building work in Galkayo and Puntland. Ground conditions, prices and rules differ between places; confirm the details for your own site.