di: Céline Dominique Nadler | April 23, 2024
While discussions on strategic agreements with Ethiopia are still ongoing, the self-declared independent region of Somaliland is pushing ahead with the construction of a new port in Lughaya, a historic town in the Awdal region. While the total expected construction cost has yet to be determined, the local government has committed $1 million to this project, with additional funding expected from local entrepreneurs. This was reported by the Somali portal Hiiraan.
The project’s start date has not been announced, although preliminary financial planning has been released.
Port development was a key campaign promise of President Muse Bihi in 2017 and is gaining traction as the elections approach. According to Abdi Nasir Buuni, Somaliland’s Minister of Council Relations and Constitutional Affairs, the necessary preparations have been completed and construction is expected to begin shortly. “The economy is our main concern and President Bihi’s administration has provided the necessary technical resources,” Buuni said.
This development follows reports earlier this year of a leasing agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland that included provisions for a landing port and military base on the Red Sea coast. However, details of the deal, including the exact location of the port, were not publicly confirmed until Ridwan Hussein, former national security advisor to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, identified Lughaya as the location in an interview by January.
Lughaya is located 50 km south of Djibouti and 200 km north of Berbera. It is an important regional center in the north-west of the Awdal region, governed by Somaliland.
Despite the lack of international recognition, Somaliland has engaged in numerous international agreements regarding port development.
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