In brief
- On 21 May 2015, Goobjoog News reported that the administration of South West State of Somalia declared the KM50 airstrip would be reopened.
- The same report says the airstrip was once operational and that the decision followed consultations with local elders, religious leaders and civil society.
- The report does not establish a reopening date, funding source, contractor, project value or whether any works have begun.
On 21 May 2015, Goobjoog News reported that the administration of South West State of Somalia declared that the once operational KM50 airstrip would be reopened. That declaration, carried in a statement attributed to the regional administration, is the only reported decision on the airstrip in the documents available.
The same report says South West State president Sharif Hassan Sheik Adan had concluded a 9-day visit to Lower Shabelle region and issued a statement about decisions taken while there. According to Goobjoog News, the administration also decided to remove and ban illegal road blocks. That decision, the report says, followed a wide range of consultations with local elders, religious leaders and civil society.
The same statement covered security and military arrangements. Goobjoog News reported that the president toured and identified potential army barracks and training grounds for the police force. The report also says the president is to harmonize working relations between the Somali National Army and local forces. The decisions were described in the statement as aimed at mobilizing the masses towards self reliance and encouraging development.
What the report does not establish
The KM50 announcement is a declaration of intent. Goobjoog News does not report a reopening date, a construction or rehabilitation start date, or any completed works. According to Goobjoog News, the report does not name a funder, a contractor or a consultant for the airstrip. It gives no project value, contract value or total cost. It does not set out a timeline or construction schedule, and it does not describe the length, condition or specifications of the airstrip. The report also includes no verification of the airstrip's previous operational status beyond the phrase that it was once operational, and it does not detail the nature or outcome of the consultations it cites.
Decisions beyond the airstrip
The same reported statement covered three other matters: illegal road blocks, potential army barracks and police training grounds, and the working relationship between the Somali National Army and local forces. Goobjoog News does not report whether any of those decisions were implemented, and it does not say that integration of the two forces was achieved.
Goobjoog News' 2015-05-21 report is the only source in the record on KM50. It does not establish what has happened to the airstrip since that date.
Frequently asked questions
Why was KM50 Airport closed?
The Goobjoog News report of 2015-05-21 describes the KM50 airstrip as once operational and says the administration declared it would be reopened. The report does not state why it stopped operating.
What rehabilitation work is required at KM50 Airport?
The report does not describe any required works, and it gives no details on the length, condition or specifications of the airstrip.
What is the timeline for reopening KM50 Airport?
No timeline is given. Goobjoog News reported on 2015-05-21 that the administration declared the airstrip would be reopened, without a date.