In brief
- The AfDB project head told MM Somali TV that the Djibouti to Somaliland highway would begin with a Zeila to Lawyo Addo phase, followed by a Zeila to Asho Addo phase.
- A feasibility study was under way for a 190 km Hargeisa to Odweyne to Burao road, and the Lawyo Addo to Borama study ran from 2020 with completion expected in 2023.
- The AfDB signed a deal with Somaliland's Ministry of Finance, with the Ministry of Transport and Road Development implementing and the Roads Development Authority building.
Contents
Somaliland Standard reported that Hon. Abdilahi Ibrahim, the head of the African Development Bank project, said in an interview with MM Somali TV in Hargeisa that the two first phases of the highway linking Djibouti and Somaliland would run from Zeila to Lawyo Addo and then from Zeila to Asho Addo. The page carries no publication date; its metadata reads 2026-01-10.
What the source records
Somaliland Standard reports the interview as covering the Djibouti link, a feasibility study under way for a 190 km road connecting Hargeisa, Odweyne and Buroa, a 280 km African Development Bank funded road between Borama and Lawyo Addo whose foundation stone would soon be laid, and a feasibility study for that Lawyo Addo to Borama road that began in 2020 and was expected to finish by 2023. The same report states the African Development Bank signed a deal with Somaliland's Ministry of Finance, with the Ministry of Transport and Road Development implementing and the Roads Development Authority in charge of construction.
What it means on site
The studies described cover climate, economy, viability, highway design and permitted vehicles, so design decisions on alignment, drainage, pavement and axle loading may still be open at this stage. Contractors, plant owners and suppliers watching the corridor can ask the Roads Development Authority and the Ministry of Transport and Road Development which study outputs are complete and when survey or tender notices will be issued. Treat the phasing as an intention recorded in the interview, not a construction programme: ask for the current status before you plan equipment, camps or materials along either phase.
What the source does not establish
The article is undated and its dates suggest it predates the May 2026 signing, so it cannot confirm that the Zeila phasing still stands or that any work has started. It reports intentions and a study, not signed contracts, awarded lots, completion dates or present site conditions. No cost, land acquisition, resettlement or maintenance arrangement is given. The reported 2023 completion of the Lawyo Addo to Borama study is a target from the interview, not a confirmed outcome. Only the implementing bodies' current records, or a later announcement, can show what exists on the ground now.
What to do next
Request the current project status in writing from the Roads Development Authority and the Ministry of Transport and Road Development in Hargeisa. Ask specifically which feasibility studies are complete, whether contracts for the Zeila phases have been awarded, and which sections are open for survey or tender.
Frequently asked questions
Has construction started on the Zeila phases?
The source does not say. It reports that work would begin soon as an intention at the time of the interview, so ask the Roads Development Authority for the current status.
Who is implementing the AfDB road projects?
The source states the African Development Bank signed a deal with Somaliland's Ministry of Finance, with the Ministry of Transport and Road Development implementing and the Roads Development Authority handling construction.
Sources
Local reporting: this article is written for building work in Zeila and Somaliland. Ground conditions, prices and rules differ between places; confirm the details for your own site.