In brief
- On 10 September 2022, Somali Dispatch reported that Gara'ad port would be officially operational the following month, according to its head contractor.
- The report contains unverified claims about cost, capacity, regional significance, and existing construction progress.
- Since the report's publication, no evidence has emerged to confirm whether the port actually became operational.
According to a report by Somali Dispatch dated 10 September 2022, the Gara'ad port in Somalia was slated to become “officially operational” in October 2022. The publication attributed the timeline to the head contractor, Said Fadhi, whose company was to build the port.
The report offered several details, all attributed to the contractor and not independently verified. The project was said to cost 531 million dollars and would, in the words of the report, “boost the export of livestock, fish, and agricultural products.” The port was described as able to accommodate 40,000 tons of containers, though the report did not specify a unit or timeframe. It further claimed that parts of the facility had been “fully completed” while others were not, making it the second largest port in Somalia.
Somali Dispatch characterised Gara'ad as the fifth port on the Indian Ocean and the closest to Ethiopia’s landlocked population, with “115 million potential clients.” The report also cited government data that Somalia exported $1.5 billion in goods and services in 2021, a third of which was livestock and a 30% increase from the previous year.
The report noted that Bossaso, Puntland’s major port initially run by DP World, had faced “developmental issues” in recent years, making Gara'ad a possible alternative.
None of these claims have been confirmed by later reporting. As of the date of this article, no evidence from port authorities, regional government, or independent sources indicates whether Gara'ad became operational in October 2022 or at any time since. The head contractor’s company was not named, and no contract award or financing details are available. The reported cost, capacity, completion status, and regional significance remain unverified claims from a single report.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Gara'ad port?
Gara'ad is a port project in Somalia. On 10 September 2022, Somali Dispatch reported, citing the head contractor, that it would be the fifth port on the Indian Ocean and would open in October 2022.
Who is building the Gara'ad port?
The head contractor was identified as Said Fadhi. His company's name was not mentioned in the report.
What was the reported cost and capacity?
The project was reported to cost 531 million dollars, with a capacity of 40,000 tons of containers. These figures are unverified and lack unit or timeframe details.