Today, EU Ambassador to Somalia, Michele Cervone d’Urso and German Ambassador to Somalia, Andreas Peschke, together with the President of Puntland, H.E. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali ‘Gas’, launched the “Sustainable Road Maintenance Project“, aiming at rehabilitating the “Garowe-Galkacyo” corridor.

The European Union provides 17.75 million Euros and Germany another 3 million Euros to the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to implement the project which is part of the Somali New Deal Compact and which is crucial to promote Puntland’s economy. Indeed, the Garowe-Galkacyo corridor is key to livestock rearing and exports from the ports of Berbera and Bosasso.

The programme will finance the rehabilitation of the road’s damaged sections and the construction of flood control structures and check dams as the roads were heavily affected by the floods in 2013. Similarly, the project will provide policy support to the Puntland Roads authorities and the Puntland Ministry of Public Works. It also involves a routine annual maintenance programme, allowing drainage and culvert clearance, clearing of bridges after floods, side brushing, and pothole filling. In addition, on the job training will be provided to upgrade the skills of the local contractors.

Both Ambassadors highlighted the strong commitment of the EU and Germany to support the Somali Compact. They emphasized that peace and political stability are pre-conditions for economic recovery. President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali ‘Gas’ welcomed the initiative and thanked Ambassadors Peschke and Cervone d’Urso on behalf of the Somali people.

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Martin Falk