# Garacad Port First Phase Inaugurated in Puntland

> Wardheer News reported the October 22, 2022 inauguration of Garacad Port's first phase; what has happened since remains undocumented.

- 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, utilities
- Web version: https://somaliconstructionreview.com/blog/garacad-port-first-phase-inaugurated-puntland

## Key points

- Wardheer News reported that the first phase of Garacad Port was inaugurated on October 22, 2022.
- The report claims the port is largely privately funded, with Somali investors having put in nearly half a billion dollars.
- No primary sources confirm subsequent milestones such as completion of remaining berths or construction of the Ethiopia road.

On October 25, 2022, Wardheer News published an account of the October 22, 2022 inauguration of the first phase of Garacad Port in Puntland, Somalia, describing the event as a historic revival of a remote coastal settlement. The report states that the first commercial ship docked that day, marking the port's official opening for business.

Wardheer News reported that the port is largely privately funded, with Somali businessmen and women having invested nearly half a billion dollars through Wadaagsan Company, the anchor investment group. The report does not provide audited financial statements or a list of investors, so the $500 million figure remains an unverified claim.

The inaugural ceremony was attended by Somalia Federal Government President Hassan Sh. Mohamoud, Puntland President Said A. Dani, Southwest State President Abdiaziz H Mohamed 'Laftagareen', Ethiopian Somali Region President Mustafa Omar, and Kenya's Defense Minister Aden B Duale, according to Wardheer News.

Wardheer News reported that the port has four berths planned, big enough to accommodate the largest shipping vessels in the region, and that Wadaagsan is working to complete the remaining two berths. However, the report does not establish the current status of those berths or a completion timeline. It also states that when completed, the port will serve as a container port.

The report mentions plans to build a tarmac road connecting the port to Galkaio and a dry port at Tuurdibi on the Ethiopia-Somalia border, about 300KM away. Wardheer News attributed to President Hassan Sh. Mohamoud an announcement that the Federal Government has secured funds for the road to Ethiopia. No details on the funding source or amount were provided, and no evidence that construction has begun or that a tender was issued.

Additional claimed developments include a rush of new hotels, restaurants, fuel depots, and warehouses in the formerly empty village, as reported by Wardheer News. The same report says that Ethiopia will continue to expand road networks east toward the border.

The historical background in the report, including the first settlers, the mid-1970s resettlement plan, and the removal of pirates in the early 2010s, is presented by Wardheer News.

Since the October 2022 report, no primary sources such as the Puntland Port Authority, Wadaagsan Company, or government announcements have confirmed subsequent milestones, including the completion of remaining berths, actual trade volumes, or progress on the road to Ethiopia.

## Questions

### When was Garacad Port inaugurated?

Wardheer News reported that the first phase of Garacad Port was inaugurated on October 22, 2022, with the first commercial ship docking that day.

### Who attended the Garacad Port inauguration?

According to Wardheer News, attendees included Somalia Federal Government President Hassan Sh. Mohamoud, Puntland President Said A. Dani, Southwest State President Abdiaziz H Mohamed 'Laftagareen', Ethiopian Somali Region President Mustafa Omar, and Kenya's Defense Minister Aden B Duale.

### What are the port's key features and capacity?

Wardheer News reported that the port has four berths planned, capable of accommodating the largest shipping vessels in the region, and that it will serve as a container port when completed. The first phase's completed capacity is not specified in the report.

## Sources

- [From Ruins to Revival: The Historic Inauguration of Garacad Port](https://wardheernews.com/from-ruins-to-revival-the-historic-inauguration-of-garacad-port/) — Wardheer News, 2022-10-25