In brief
- On 6 January 2014, Somaliland Sun reported that Hargeisa Water Agency manager Ibrahim Siad Yonis denied allegations that the Humbo-weine project would divert water to Geed-deeble.
- Yonis said the EU, not HWA, managed the water development funds, and that EU funding was 15 million euros, not 40 million.
- The report provides no information on what has happened since that date.
On 6 January 2014, Somaliland Sun reported that the manager of Hargeisa Water Agency, Ibrahim Siad Yonis, rejected claims that the Humbo-weine project would divert water to Geed-deeble. The report, based on Yonis's statements, does not establish what has happened since.
According to the Somaliland Sun article, Yonis also denied that any EU funds were misappropriated. He asked how misappropriation could occur when the EU was managing the funds.
Yonis was quoted as saying that the EU funded 15 million euros, not the 40 million euros previously alleged. The article does not specify whether that figure was a grant, loan, or total project cost.
The manager stated that the Sh. Khalifa foundation sponsored the Humbo-weine project by drilling 10 water boreholes so that water may reach Mohamud Heibe and Ga'an Libah districts. He said the first phase of the boreholes was over, and the second phase, consisting of piping, pumping and associated supply, was under way. The report does not provide an independent verification of these claims or a timeline for the second phase.
Yonis acknowledged that some estates in Hargeisa received more than their share of water while others received none.
The Somaliland Sun report does not contain any subsequent updates on the project, funding milestones, or official statements. The source of the original allegations is referenced as the Wadani political party, but the report does not quote them directly.
Frequently asked questions
Who manages the EU water development funds?
According to Hargeisa Water Agency manager Ibrahim Siad Yonis, as reported by Somaliland Sun on 6 January 2014, the EU was managing the funds, not the HWA.
How much did the EU fund for the water projects?
Yonis stated that the EU funded 15 million euros, not 40 million. The Somaliland Sun report does not clarify the nature of the funding.
What is the status of the Humbo-weine project?
As of 6 January 2014, according to the manager, the first phase of the Ga'anlibah and M.Heibe boreholes was complete, and the second phase, including piping and pumping, was under way. No later updates were provided in the report.