# Road Linking Barawa to Ethiopia Announced

> Goobjoog News reported on 2017-06-14 that Southwest State announced plans for a 534 km road from Barawa to the Ethiopia border, plus seaport and airport.

- 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: roads, drainage
- Web version: https://somaliconstructionreview.com/blog/road-linking-barawa-ethiopia-announced

## Key points

- On June 14, 2017, Goobjoog News reported that the Administration of Southwest announced expected plans to build a 534 km road from Barawa town to the Somalia-Ethiopia border on the Eel Barde side.
- The plans, as reported, also include building the seaport and airport of Barawa, with a total estimated cost of more than US$500 million, allegedly sponsored by the World Bank.
- The report does not establish what has happened since that date: no evidence of construction start, signed contracts, or confirmed funding is provided.

On June 14, 2017, Goobjoog News reported that the Administration of Southwest announced expected plans to construct a long road connecting Barawa (Bawara) town to the Somalia-Ethiopia border. The report, based on statements by Warsame Mohamud Dakane, the local Minister for Ports of Southwest State, also mentioned plans to build the seaport and airport of the coastal town.

The road linking Barawa to the border on the Eel Barde side is 534 km, according to Warsame Mohamud Dakane. The same minister said the whole programs would cost more than US$500 million and are sponsored by the World Bank. Goobjoog News also reported that the programs would be implemented mostly by foreign companies, including some based in Italy, though no specific companies were named.

According to Goobjoog News, agreements regarding these programs were recently signed in Baidoa town. However, the report does not identify the parties to those agreements. Warsame Mohamud Dakane said all these programs will commence at the end of Ramadan, and that the seaport and airport will begin construction in the coming months. He also said that one group has taken the road construction expense and another group has taken the seaport and airport, but the groups did not mention a particular time to start work.

The report does not establish what has happened since June 14, 2017. Goobjoog News provides no follow-up on progress, contracts, funding, or implementation. There is no documentary evidence of the signed agreements, no World Bank record confirming sponsorship, and no named foreign companies. The US$500 million figure is attributed only to the minister, with no breakdown or audited project cost.

> **Note:** As of the June 14, 2017 report, these were expected plans and signed agreements, not confirmed construction. No evidence of actual construction start has been provided.

For contractors and regional trade stakeholders, the key facts remain limited to the 2017 announcement: a 534 km road corridor, seaport and airport plans, an estimated cost exceeding US$500 million, and a claimed World Bank sponsorship. All remain unverified as of the report date.

## Questions

### What is the length of the planned Barawa-Ethiopia road?

The road length is 534 km, according to Warsame Mohamud Dakane, the Minister for Ports of Southwest State, as reported by Goobjoog News on June 14, 2017.

### Who is financing the road?

The Minister claimed the programs are sponsored by the World Bank, as reported by Goobjoog News. However, no World Bank record or confirmation is cited in the report.

## Sources

- [Road Linking Barawa Town to Ethiopia to be Built](https://en.goobjoog.com/road-linking-barawa-town-to-ethiopia-to-be-built/) — Goobjoog News, 2017-06-14