In brief
- Somaliland Sun reported on May 28, 2015 that Somaliland expected to choose a partner to develop Berbera port by the end of that year.
- Foreign Minister Mohamed Behi Yonis said the government was in talks with Bollore, MSC and DP World, but no partner had been decided.
- The report does not establish whether a partner was actually selected by the deadline or whether construction began in early 2016.
On 28 May 2015, Somaliland Sun reported that Somaliland expected to choose a partner to develop and manage its Berbera port by the end of that year, with construction expected to start early the following year. The report cited statements by Foreign Minister Mohamed Behi Yonis made on Wednesday of that week.
The minister said the government was in talks with three port management companies: France's Bollore, the Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and Dubai's DP World. "Those are the three major port management companies that are interested in developing the port. We have been discussing with all of them," he said, while adding that "we have not made up our minds. We're looking at all options."
Yonis described the port's expected role as a major transit hub for goods entering and leaving the Horn of Africa, particularly for landlocked Ethiopia. Ethiopia lost its direct access to the sea in 1993 when Eritrea gained independence and is currently heavily dependent on the port of Djibouti.
Somaliland had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ethiopian government to ease access to the port. According to Yonis, the MOU entailed development of the Berbera corridor, a road from the Ethiopian border to Berbera. He added that Somaliland was "also thinking of having a railway."
The report also noted that Somaliland, which broke away from Somalia in 1991 but is not internationally recognised, had enjoyed relative stability compared with the rest of Somalia and had held a series of peaceful elections. However, it said several years of Turkey-hosted talks aimed at peaceful separation from Somalia had made little progress.
What the report does not establish is whether a partner was actually selected by the end of 2015, whether construction began in early 2016, or whether any contract was signed with Bollore, MSC or DP World. It also does not provide any subsequent updates on the Berbera corridor road or the proposed railway. As of the report's publication date, no partner had been decided.
Frequently asked questions
What was the deadline for selecting a Berbera Port partner?
According to Somaliland Sun on May 28, 2015, the government expected to choose a partner by the end of 2015.
Which companies were in contention for the Berbera Port development?
Foreign Minister Mohamed Behi Yonis named Bollore, MSC and DP World as the three port management companies interested in developing the port.
Was a partner selected by the end of 2015?
The Somaliland Sun report does not establish whether a partner was actually selected. It only states that the government expected to make a decision by year-end.