In brief
- On 20 January 2019, Somaliland Standard reported that the government was readying a plan to move to a new presidential compound in Kood Buur village, north west of Hargeisa.
- The report attributes the plan to the minister for public works and the Hargeisa mayor, including a 500-metre building restriction, a warning to nearby families and a compensation statement.
- The report does not establish a budget, funding source, tender, contract award, contractor, timeline, start date or any construction status since that date.
On 20 January 2019, Somaliland Standard reported that the Somaliland government was readying a plan to relocate to a brand new presidential palace. The report said the plan was disclosed by the minister in charge of public works and housing and the mayor of Hargeisa, and that the new presidential compound was to be constructed in Kood Buur village, north west of Hargeisa, Somaliland's capital.
According to the same report, the two officials held a joint press statement and issued a stern warning to families currently residing in the vicinity of the planned presidential mansion. Hargeisa mayor Abdirahman Soltelco said no one is authorized to build a multi-storey building 500 meters away from the compound, and he denied rumors that residents on the outskirts of the compound had fallen out with the government over the new building, Somaliland Standard reported.
The report also stated that the minister responsible for public works, Hon. Abdirashid, said the government will compensate landlords evicted from the land where the new presidential palace will be erected. The report does not state a compensation amount or mechanism, or whether any compensation was paid.
What the 2019 report does not establish
The report carries no funding source, no budget figure or allocation, and no tender, procurement process or contract award. No contractor, consultant, architect or developer is named. It gives no project cost, contract value or total cost, and no plot size, site area, design, specifications or number of storeys.
It also states no start date, construction schedule or target completion date. Somaliland Standard's report does not say whether construction had begun, was funded, or had been completed at the time, and it is not evidence of the project's status since 2019-01-20.
The mayor's 500-metre building restriction and the denial of a falling-out are his statements as reported by Somaliland Standard, not verified regulations or independently confirmed accounts. The compensation statement is the public works minister's, as reported. The report names the minister only as "Hon. Abdirashid" without further identification, and the height limit it attributes to the mayor is ambiguous as published.
All details above come from Somaliland Standard's report of 2019-01-20.
Frequently asked questions
Where was the new presidential compound to be built?
Somaliland Standard reported on 2019-01-20 that it was to be constructed in Kood Buur village, north west of Hargeisa, Somaliland's capital.
What was the estimated cost and funding source?
The report does not state a project cost, contract value, budget or funding source.
Who was to construct it and when?
The report names no contractor, consultant or developer and gives no start date, construction schedule or target completion date.
Sources
Local reporting: this article is written for building work in Somaliland. Ground conditions, prices and rules differ between places; confirm the details for your own site.