In brief
- On 6 October 2018, Somaliland Standard reported that the Minister in charge of housing and public works denied reports that the Hargeisa main bridge was on the brink of collapse.
- The denial was made during a working visit to Borama, and ministry officials said the bridge's concrete pillars are 18 metres deep in the ground.
- The report does not establish the bridge's condition after that date, and the initial collapse reports are not independently verified.
On 6 October 2018, Somaliland Standard reported that the Somaliland Minister in charge of housing and public works, Hon. Abdirashid Du’ale Qambi, denied reports that the Hargeisa main bridge was on the brink of collapse. The minister was on a working visit to Borama, the regional capital of Awdal, at the time.
The denial came after reports that the bridge was on the verge of collapsing had been spreading widely. According to Somaliland Standard, ministry officials stated during the trip that the major concrete pillars of the bridge are 18 metres deep in the ground. The Director General of the ministry, Hon. Elmi Abdirahman Ashur, urged the public to cease the spreading of false news.
The report does not establish what has happened to the bridge since that date. It provides no named source for the initial collapse reports and no direct quote from the minister, only a paraphrase by the publication. Somaliland Standard did not include an engineering assessment or independent verification of the bridge's condition.
The government's denial, as reported, consists of the minister's rejection of the collapse reports, the statement about the pillar depth, and the Director General's call to stop spreading false news. No further details on inspections, repairs, or the bridge's operational status were provided in the 6 October 2018 report.
Frequently asked questions
What did the media report say about the Hargeisa bridge?
On 6 October 2018, Somaliland Standard reported that the Minister in charge of housing and public works denied reports that the Hargeisa main bridge was on the brink of collapse, following widespread reports that the bridge was on the verge of collapsing.
What is the government's response to the collapse reports?
As reported by Somaliland Standard, the minister denied the reports during a working visit to Borama, and ministry officials stated that the bridge's concrete pillars are 18 metres deep in the ground. The Director General urged the public to stop spreading what he called false news.
Is there independent verification of the bridge's condition?
The Somaliland Standard report does not provide independent verification of the bridge's condition. It quotes ministry officials but does not include an engineering assessment or named sources for the initial collapse reports.