In brief
- On 27 October 2018, Somaliland Sun reported the inauguration of a multimillion dollar water storage and distribution system in eastern Hargeisa's Cory area.
- The report described water-vending kiosks installed and operational, but it did not give a project cost, a technical specification, or any partner financial contribution.
- No subsequent evidence on operations, maintenance, expansion, or beneficiary numbers after that date is available.
On 27 October 2018, Somaliland Sun reported the inauguration of a multimillion dollar project in Hargeisa, a low-cost, efficient and safe water storage and distribution system with water-vending kiosks, serving eastern Hargeisa's Cory area for the first time. The report did not state a total project cost or currency beyond the unquantified descriptor "multimillion dollar."
The article described a three-year partnership among the Hargeisa Water Agency (HWA), the Somaliland Ministry of Water Resources, The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation, the European Union, UNICEF, Somaliland Beverage Industries (SBI) and Terre Solidali. No financial contribution or role was stated for any named partner. The event was officiated by Vice President Abdirahman Sayli, with Water Development Minister Suleiman Yusuf Kore and other senior officials present.
Ahmed Osman Gelleh, CEO of the Gelleh group of companies and SBI, said the team had to dig a six km trench to lay pipe bringing water to Ayaha. He stated that a major challenge was persuading private landowners to allow digging, resolved through collaboration among the Hargeisa Water Agency, local elders and local imams. Gelleh also said Hargeisa has a population of about 1 million and roughly half lack access to water mains, and that most urban centres in Somaliland suffer chronic water shortages with water-truck prices exorbitant.
Water Development Minister Suleiman Yusuf Kore said the RAIN Project exemplifies The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation and SBI's commitment to Somaliland.
The same report said in 2014 Somaliland was included in the Coca-Cola Foundation RAIN project, and that year 50,000 residents of Ayaha, mostly IDPs and refugees, received clean water at no cost. RAIN has projects launched in 36 of Africa's 55 countries and aims to provide safe drinking water to two million people across Africa, according to the article.
The report does not establish what has happened since 27 October 2018. No current operation, maintenance, expansion or beneficiary number is available from the source. The single source is a dated news report; claims by Gelleh and Minister Kore remain attributed statements, not independently verified findings.
Frequently asked questions
What specific water infrastructure was built or upgraded?
According to Somaliland Sun on 27 October 2018, a low-cost, efficient and safe water storage and distribution system featuring water-vending kiosks was installed and operational in eastern Hargeisa's Cory area.
How many people now have access to water?
The report states that in 2014, 50,000 residents of Ayaha received clean water at no cost. It does not provide a beneficiary figure for the 2018 Cory area system.
Who funded the project?
The partnership included HWA, the Somaliland Ministry of Water Resources, The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation, the European Union, UNICEF, SBI and Terre Solidali, but no specific financial contribution or amount is stated.