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In brief
- The Somaliland Development Fund announced on 22 March 2025 that reconstruction and rehabilitation of 69 km of road between Sheikh and Berbera was completed.
- The release states that this phase completes rehabilitation of the entire road between Burao and Berbera, after an earlier 64 km phase from Burao to Sheikh that restored four bridges.
- The announcement is the funder's own; it does not include independent acceptance testing or final as-built records.
Contents
The Somaliland Development Fund said in a press release dated 22 March 2025 that reconstruction and rehabilitation of 69 km of road between Sheikh and Berbera was completed and open to trade, with a ceremony at Sheikh officiated by President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilahi alongside ministry officials, community leaders and development partners.
What the source records
The release states that the phase covered comprehensive rehabilitation: drainage restoration, culvert replacement, and installation of road furniture and traffic calming measures. It reports that this phase completes rehabilitation of the entire road between Burao and Berbera, and that the first phase covered 64 km between Burao and Sheikh, including restoring four bridges at Dubur, Laaleys, Gelokor and Kalajab. The same release says detailed designs for the Erigavo-Maydh road were completed, and that the work included training and mentoring for the Ministry of Transport and Roads Development. Read the full release at Somaliland Development Fund.
What it means on site
For hauliers, suppliers and clients moving between Burao and Berbera, the announced scope is drainage, culverts, road furniture and traffic calming, so drainage inlets, culvert headwalls and markings are the elements to watch through the next Gu and Deyr rains. Because the release states that this phase links to the earlier Burao to Sheikh phase, the four named bridge sites remain the places where scour and approach settlement would show first. How the finished surface and shoulders actually perform can only be judged from inspection records and maintenance reports, which this announcement does not contain.
What the source does not establish
The release is the funder's own announcement. It does not include independent acceptance testing, defect lists, as-built drawings or a maintenance regime, so the condition of the road after the 22 March 2025 date is not recorded here. The projection of over 1,000 jobs is a forecast, not a count. No cause, fault or liability is stated or implied for any element of the works. A completion certificate, handing-over document or later inspection report would confirm the present state; until those are produced, treat this as an announcement, not proof of performance.
What to do next
Ask the Ministry of Transport and Roads Development office for the completion certificate and as-built drawings for both phases, and ask the municipal engineer's office in Burao or Berbera which authority holds the current maintenance and drainage records for the section you use.
Frequently asked questions
Does the release cover the Burao to Sheikh section as well?
It states that the earlier first phase covered 64 km between Burao and Sheikh, including four bridges, and that this phase completes the whole Burao to Berbera road. It does not publish test results or as-built records for either phase.
Where can I get the completion documents?
Request them from the Ministry of Transport and Roads Development, which the release names as the partner on the project. The release itself contains no certificates, drawings or inspection reports.
Sources
Local reporting: this article is written for building work in Berbera and Burao and Somaliland. Ground conditions, prices and rules differ between places; confirm the details for your own site.