In brief
- On 16 February 2020, Somaliland Standard reported that an RDA delegation led by managing director Ahmed Yusuf Mohamed inspected the Hargeisa-Kalabaydh Sustainable Road Maintenance Project in Gabiley region.
- The delegation included the Mayor of Gabiley, the RDA deputy MD, Gabiley councilmen and Ministry of Transport engineers, according to the report.
- The report does not establish what has happened on the road since that date, and it records no contract value, funding amount, start date or completion date.
On 16 February 2020, Somaliland Standard reported that an RDA delegation led by the agency's managing director, Mr. Ahmed Yusuf Mohamed, had visited Gabiley region the previous Saturday to inspect and evaluate the Hargeisa-Kalabaydh Sustainable Road Maintenance Project (SRMP).
The delegation, the report said, included Mr. Mohamed-Amin Omer Abdi, the Mayor of Gabiley Town, the RDA's deputy managing director, Gabiley town councilmen, and engineers from the Ministry of Transport. Somaliland Standard described the project as funded by GIZ and built by the Hono Group.
What the delegation said about progress
Officials on the visit gave a status picture for the works. The RDA delegation present stated, as reported by Somaliland Standard, that the project was underway with 48km of asphalt paver already built, and that they hoped to reach the 49km mark that day. The same delegation stated that pothole filling on a 56km stretch was ongoing with 27km completed, and that 52 culverts along the Hargeisa-Kalabaydh road section had been repaired and cleaned to control floods during the rainy season.
The RDA managing director stated that works were being undertaken in three different sections: filling of potholes, asphalt laying, and installation of road lights and signs. He stated that the RDA and the Ministry of Transport had provided technical know-how in the form of engineers, with equipment and material forming part of the project's scope. The report said he thanked Gabiley regional authorities, stating that the Gabiley County council had put in effort and resources to beautify the road.
The deputy managing director of the RDA stated that the agency and the Ministry of Transport had put effort into transport infrastructure, especially Ergavo and Hargeisa-Kalabaydh, which he described as vital for the country's economic and social development. He also stated, as reported, that residents of Gabiley and those who voted for President Muse Bihi and the Kulmiye party did not vote in vain. That is a political statement by the official, not an SCR finding.
The Mayor of Gabiley Town, Mr. Mohamed-Amin Omer Abdi, commended the RDA MD and deputy MD and the Ministry of Transport for conforming with international standards, and awarded a certificate of appreciation to Mr. Maulid Nuh, the chief project engineer in charge of the road's construction, for excellent work. The report said some Gabiley town councilmen said they were pleased with the construction of the highway between Hargeisa and Kalabaydh, and thanked RDA and Ministry of Transport engineers for the rehabilitation works.
What the report does not establish
Somaliland Standard's account does not state a contract value for the Hono Group's role, a GIZ funding amount or any disbursement, a start date, or a total project cost. It does not confirm whether the 49km mark was reached, and it gives no status for the pothole filling, culvert work or asphalt laying after 16 February 2020. The 48km figure is unclear in the original wording, and nothing in the report establishes the condition of the road since.
No independent verification of the RDA's statements is recorded. The deputy managing director and the Ministry of Transport engineers are not named in the report.
What happens next
Readers tracking this road should treat the February 2020 figures as an official mid-works account, not a completion record. Confirmation of the completed length, the outstanding works and the current condition of the Hargeisa-Kalabaydh section is not available in the report.
Frequently asked questions
What maintenance works were reported on the Hargeisa-Kalabaydh road?
According to Somaliland Standard's 16 February 2020 report, the RDA managing director stated that works were undertaken in three sections: pothole filling, asphalt laying, and installation of road lights and signs. The RDA delegation stated at the time that pothole filling on a 56km stretch was ongoing with 27km completed, and that 52 culverts had been repaired and cleaned. The report does not confirm the status of these works after that date.
Who is the contractor on the Hargeisa-Kalabaydh project?
Somaliland Standard reported on 16 February 2020 that the Hargeisa-Kalabaydh Sustainable Road Maintenance Project was funded by GIZ and built by the Hono Group. The report does not record a contract award document or value for the Hono Group's role, and no GIZ funding agreement or amount is stated.
Is there an expected completion date?
The report does not state one. The RDA delegation stated that they hoped to reach the 49km mark on the day of the visit, but the report does not confirm whether that mark was reached, and it gives no start date or completion date for the project.