In brief
- On 2020-06-03 Somaliland Standard reported that Transport Minister Hon Abdillahi Abokor led a delegation touring districts where the Hargeisa-Baligubadle road was under construction.
- The minister said base works were complete and tarmacking had started, according to the report, while a quoted speaker said six kilometres remained to be completed.
- The report does not establish what happened after 2020-06-03, including whether construction continued, stalled or finished.
On 3 June 2020, Somaliland Standard reported that the Minister of Transport and Roads Development Authority, Hon Abdillahi Abokor, led a delegation touring districts where construction of the Hargeisa-Baligubadle road was ongoing.
According to the report, the delegation included the Minister of Religious Affairs, the Managing Director of the Somaliland Roads Development Agency, the Director-General in the Ministry of Transport and members of the Baligubadle road construction committee.
What the minister said
The minister said the work of building the road base was completed and tarmacking had already started. "I hope we shall complete the task ahead of us that is to build a modern road," he said, as reported by Somaliland Standard on 2020-06-03. He also revealed plans to upgrade the road to tarmac and said more funds would need to be solicited.
The minister thanked the Baligubadle roads construction committee for supporting the government's road-building efforts, and thanked Roads Development Agency staff, including drivers, administration and site engineers.
Other statements
The Minister of Religious Affairs, Sheikh Khalil Abdillahi Ahmed, delivered a speech at the Hargeisa-to-Baligubadle road and said he was deeply grateful to officials of the Ministry of Transport and the Somaliland Roads Development Agency.
Omer Abdillahi Aden (Omer Sayid) said the road links two regions and is of national significance, according to Somaliland Standard on 2020-06-03. He also said the Hawd region is underdeveloped and that road users previously faced many problems that have now been solved by the road construction. A quoted speaker said six kilometres of the road remained to be completed.
What the report does not establish
The 2020-06-03 report does not state the road's length, route, contract value, total project cost, funder or donor, contractor or consultant, or construction start date. It does not identify sources for the remaining-six-kilometre figure. It gives no confirmation of what happened after 2020-06-03, including whether construction continued, stalled or finished.
Frequently asked questions
What road works were underway on the Hargeisa-Baligubadle road in June 2020?
Somaliland Standard reported on 2020-06-03 that the Minister of Transport said base works were completed and tarmacking had already started on the Hargeisa-Baligubadle road.
Who inspected the road works?
Somaliland Standard reported that the Minister of Transport, Hon Abdillahi Abokor, led a delegation that included the Minister of Religious Affairs, the Managing Director of the Somaliland Roads Development Agency, the Director-General in the Ministry of Transport and members of the Baligubadle road construction committee.
How much of the road remained to be completed?
A quoted speaker in the 2020-06-03 report said six kilometres remained to be completed. The report identifies no source for that figure and does not confirm what happened after that date.