In brief
- On 18 May 2019, Somaliland Standard quoted Vice President Abdirahman Sayli'i saying DP World will commence rebuilding Zeila port as part of the Berbera agreement.
- The VP said Zeila work follows completion of Berbera modernization, with Berbera usage reportedly reaching 75%.
- Somaliland Standard did not provide a timeline, cost, or subsequent developments for Zeila port.
On 18 May 2019, Somaliland Standard reported that Vice President Abdirahman Sayli'i said DP World will commence the rebuilding and restoration of Zeila port, attributing the statement to the 28th independence anniversary celebrations in Borama, Awdal's provincial capital.
What the Vice President said
The vice president linked Zeila development to the existing agreement between Somaliland and DP World. According to the report, he said the work was "part and parcel of the agreement that SL inked with Dubai Ports World".
He conditioned the start of Zeila work on the conclusion of the Berbera port modernization. The report quoted him saying that once DP World "concludes the modernization of Berbera port, then it will commence the rejuvenation and revamp of Zeila Port in Salal region".
He gave no start date. He said that after 10 years of accomplishing its mission in Berbera with Berbera port usage reaching up to 75%, the next port to develop in Somaliland is Zeila.
He also said Ethiopia is well informed about the reconstruction of Zeila port, according to the report.
What the report does not establish
Somaliland Standard's report contains no independent confirmation from DP World or the Somaliland government that Zeila development is agreed or scheduled. It does not include a contract value, project cost, budget or funding figure for Zeila port work.
No contractor, consultant or developer beyond DP World is named. The terms, date and parties of the referenced agreement are not given.
The report does not state a start date, completion date, deadline or timeline for Zeila port work. It does not state when the Berbera modernization will conclude.
The 75% Berbera usage figure is presented only as the vice president's assertion. No baseline date or measurement methodology is given.
Somaliland Construction Review has no independent verification of the vice president's statements, and no evidence of developments at Zeila port since the 18 May 2019 report.
Frequently asked questions
What were the exact words of the VP regarding Zeila?
Somaliland Standard reported the VP said DP World will commence the rebuilding and restoration of Zeila port as part and parcel of the agreement SL inked with Dubai Ports World.
Is there any existing agreement with DP World for Zeila?
The VP is quoted saying Zeila development was part of the agreement Somaliland signed with DP World, but Somaliland Standard did not publish the agreement's terms.