# USD 8.5 million for maintenance, ADS-B and VSAT at Somalia's airports

> Baidoa Online reported on 29 July 2026 that a USD 8.5 million programme component covers operation, maintenance, ADS-B and VSAT.

- By: Editorial Team, Somali Construction Review (https://somaliconstructionreview.com/about)
- Published: 20 September 2026
- Format: Project story (reported from one named public source)
- Publication: Somali Construction Review (https://somaliconstructionreview.com)
- Subject: Engineering and Methods
- Place: Garowe, Puntland
- Tags: puntland, garowe, airports, planned-projects
- Web version: https://somaliconstructionreview.com/blog/usd-8-5-million-for-maintenance-ads-b

## Key points

- Baidoa Online reported on 29 July 2026 that a third component of USD 8.5 million covers long-term operation and maintenance, including ADS-B and VSAT air traffic management.
- The same programme's first phase, about USD 160 million, is reported to cover airport modernisation at Mogadishu, Baidoa, Kismayo, Garowe, Dhuusamareeb, Jowhar, Doolow and Galkayo.
- The report does not name contractors, contracts or start dates for the Somaliland and Puntland works.

Baidoa Online reported on 29 July 2026 that a third component of USD 8.5 million in Somalia's World Bank backed infrastructure programme covers long-term operation and maintenance, including installation of ADS-B and VSAT air traffic management technologies across the country's airports. The report draws on project documents from the Federal Government of Somalia and the World Bank.

## What the source records

[Baidoa Online](https://www.baidoaonline.com/news/world-bank-somalia-launch-usd500m-roads-airports-and-infrastructure-program) reports a USD 500 million programme approved in April 2026 and expected to run through 2031, released in phases. The first phase is valued at about USD 160 million, with about USD 138.2 million for resilient infrastructure, and is to support airport modernisation at Mogadishu, Baidoa, Kismayo, Garowe, Dhuusamareeb, Jowhar, Doolow and Galkayo. A second component of USD 5.8 million covers institutional strengthening. Somaliland is reported to receive about USD 54 million.

## What it means on site

For a contractor or supplier working near Garowe airport, the document points to air traffic management equipment rather than terminal building work in this component: ADS-B ground stations and VSAT links need foundations, masts, cable routes, power supply and lightning protection. Those items can be quoted once a bill of quantities exists. The source does not describe the equipment schedule, so the first practical question is whether a tender package has been issued and where site works would sit relative to runway operations.

## What the source does not establish

The report carries figures from project documents, not from signed contracts. Contracts, contractors and start dates for the Somaliland and Puntland works were not published, so the as-of date is 29 July 2026 and the components are plans, not completed installations. The 2031 timeline is an expectation tied to milestone based releases. A contract award notice, a procurement plan or an implementing agency progress report would confirm what has actually been signed or built since.

## What to do next

Ask the Puntland ministry responsible for civil aviation, or the project implementation unit named in the programme documents, for the current procurement plan and the Garowe airport package list. Request the equipment schedule and site layout before pricing any civils.

> **Note:** ADS-B and VSAT work is usually tied to aviation safety approvals. Confirm which authority signs off installations before ordering equipment.

## Questions

### Does the USD 8.5 million component cover runway or terminal construction?

The report describes it as long-term operation and maintenance plus ADS-B and VSAT air traffic management installation. It does not list runway or terminal packages under this component, and the airport modernisation works sit under the first phase as reported.

### Are there named contractors for the Garowe airport works?

No. Baidoa Online states that contracts, contractors and start dates for the Somaliland and Puntland works were not published, so no firm can be confirmed for the Garowe package.

## Sources

- [World Bank USD 500 million infrastructure programme](https://www.baidoaonline.com/news/world-bank-somalia-launch-usd500m-roads-airports-and-infrastructure-program) — Baidoa Online, 2026-07-29 (Attributed reporting of project documents; paragraphs on the programme, first phase, airports, the Hargeisa border road and the Somaliland allocation.)