Transport in Somalia
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/Somali_Airlines_6O-SBN_FRA_1984-8-16.png/300px-Somali_Airlines_6O-SBN_FRA_1984-8-16.png)
Transport in Somalia refers to the
Roads
Somalia's network of roads is 21,830 km long. As of 2010, 2,757 km (12%) of streets are paved, 844 km (3.9%) are gravel, and 18,229 km (83.5%) are earth. 2,559 km are primary roads, 4,850 km are secondary roads, and 14,421 km are rural/feeder roads.[1] As of May 2015, over 70,000 vehicles are registered with the Puntland Ministry of Works and Transport.[2]
A 750 km highway connects major cities in the northern part of the country, such as
In September 2013, the Somali federal government signed an official cooperation agreement with its Chinese counterpart in Mogadishu as part of a five-year national recovery plan. The pact will see the Chinese authorities reconstruct several major infrastructural landmarks in the Somali capital and elsewhere, as well as the road between Galkayo and Burao in the northern part of the country.[6]
In June 2014, the Puntland administration inaugurated a new 5.9 km paved road in the city. The construction project leads to the Bosaso seaport, and was completed in conjunction with UNHABITAT. The Puntland government plans to invest at least 23 million Euros in contributions from international partners in similar road infrastructure development initiatives.[7]
In October 2014, the Puntland Highway Authority began construction on a new highway connecting the presidential palace in Garowe with various other parts of the administrative capital. Financing for the project was provided by the Puntland government. According to the Head of the PHA Mohamud Abdinur Adan, the new thoroughfare aims to facilitate local transportation and movement. Puntland Minister of Public Works Mohamed Hersi also indicated that the Puntland authorities plan to build and repair other roads linking to the regional urban centers.[8] In December 2014, Galkayo District Mayor Yacqub Mohamed Abdalla and other Puntland officials likewise laid the foundation for a new tarmac road in western Galkayo. The project was funded by the Puntland administration, with other roads in the broader district also slated to be paved with bitumen in 2015.[9] Among the latter streets, a tar construction project began on the Durdur road in the Garsor suburb in February 2015. The main road in the Central Business District as well as the airport road are concurrently scheduled to be paved.[10]
In November 2014, the Ministry of Interior and Federalism reached an agreement with the government of Qatar to assist in the renovation of existing roads in Somalia and the construction of new streets.[11]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/Mogadishu1d.jpg/220px-Mogadishu1d.jpg)
In January 2015, the Interim Juba Administration launched a beautification and cleaning campaign in Kismayo's transportation system. Part of a broader urbanization drive, the initiative includes the clearing of clogged streets and lanes, razing of illegal buildings therein, and further development of the municipal road network.[12]
In March 2015, Puntland President
Air
Airports
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3d/Aden_Abdullah_Airport.jpg/220px-Aden_Abdullah_Airport.jpg)
The
As of 2012, Somalia has 61 airports according to the CIA factfile. 7 of these have paved runways. Among the latter, four have runways of over 3,047 m; two between 2,438 m and 3,047 m; and one 1,524 m to 2,437 m long.[16]
There are 55 airports with unpaved landing areas. One has a runway of over 3,047 m; four are between 2,438 m to 3,047 m in length; twenty are 1,524 m to 2,437 m; twenty four are 914 m to 1,523 m; and six are under 914 m.[16]
Major airports in the country include the
In September 2013, the Turkish company Favori LLC began operations at the airport. The firm announced plans to renovate the aviation building and construct a new one, as well as upgrade other modern service structures. A$10 million project, it will increase the airport's existing 15 aircraft capacity to 60.[17] According to Favori, there were 439,879 domestic and international flights at the airport in 2014, an increase of 319,925 flights from the previous year.[18] In April 2014, construction began on a new national Aviation Training Academy at the Aden Adde International Airport. The new institution is intended to enhance the capacity of aviation personnel working in Somalia's airports, and focus training within the country. A modern terminal that is concurrently being built at the airport, with funding provided by the Favori firm. According to Minister of Air Transportation and Civil Aviation Said Jama Qorshel, construction of the new terminal is scheduled to take six months, and is expected to improve the airport's functionality and operations. He added that his Ministry is also slated to establish other airports on the capital's outskirts. This in turn would serve to reduce congestion at the Aden Adde International Airport, which would then be exclusively used by large aircraft.[19]
In December 2014, the foundation stone for a new runway was also laid at the Bender Qassim International Airport. The China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation is now slated to upgrade the airport's existing gravel runway, pave it with asphalt, and convert it from 1.8 km to 2.65 km in accordance with the code 4C operations clause.[20]
Airlines
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7d/Government_of_Somalia_Beech_1900.jpg/165px-Government_of_Somalia_Beech_1900.jpg)
Somali Airlines was the flag carrier of Somalia. Established in 1964, it offered flights to both domestic and international destinations. Due to the outbreak of the civil war in the early 1990s, all of the carrier's operations were officially suspended in 1991.[21][22] A reconstituted Somali government later began preparations in 2012 for an expected relaunch of the carrier,[14] with the first new Somali Airlines aircraft scheduled for delivery by the end of December 2013.[23]
According to the Somali Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the void created by the closure of Somali Airlines has since been filled by various Somali-owned private carriers. Over six of these private airline firms offer commercial flights to both domestic and international locations, including Daallo Airlines, Jubba Airways, African Express Airways, East Africa 540, Central Air and Hajara.[24]
Additionally, the Somali central government flies its own public aircraft.
Sea
Ports
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Bosaso_port.jpg/220px-Bosaso_port.jpg)
Possessing the longest coastline on mainland Africa,
In October 2013, the federal
According to Al-Bayrak, the majority of its revenue share will be re-invested in the seaport through additional port-based trade and new docks, construction materials and machinery. The company also plans to install an environment wall and a closed circuit camera system in accordance with international security protocols, erect a modern port administration building, and clean the ship entrance channels via underwater surveillance. As of September 2014, the first phase of the renovations are reportedly complete, with the second phase underway.[30]
The Port of Bosaso was constructed during the mid-1980s by the Siad Barre administration for annual livestock shipments to the Middle East. In January 2012, a renovation project was launched, with KMC contracted to upgrade the harbor. The initiative's first phase saw the clean-up of unwanted materials from the dockyard and was completed within the month. The second phase involves the reconstruction of the port's adjoining seabed, with the objective of accommodating larger ships.[31]
Adeso, an organization founded by Somali environmentalist Fatima Jibrell, began a project for the redevelopment of the Port of Las Khorey. The initiative was later taken up by Faisal Hawar, CEO of the Maakhir Resource Company. In 2012, he brokered an agreement with a Greek investment firm for the development of the commercial seaport.[32] A team of engineers was subsequently enlisted by the Puntland authorities to assess the ongoing renovations taking place at the port.[33] According to the Minister of Ports, Saeed Mohamed Ragge, the Puntland government intends to launch more such development projects in Las Khorey.[34]
Merchant marine
Somalia has one merchant marine. Established in 2008, it is cargo-based.[16]
Railways
See also
References
- ^ a b "Istanbul conference on Somalia 21 – 23 May 2010 – Draft discussion paper for Round Table "Transport infrastructure"" (PDF). Government of Somalia. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
- ^ "Puntland sends caveat to drivers without legal driving license". Goobjoog. 10 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
- ^ The First 100 Days in Office Archived 23 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b "Puntland to rehabilitate Bosaso-Qardo road". Sabahi. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
- ^ a b "Puntland to upgrade Bosaso-Garowe highway". Sabahi. 28 June 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
- ^ "Somalia: Gov't, China Officially Sign Cooperation Agreement". Dalsan Radio. 9 September 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
- ^ "Somalia: Puntland President inaugurates new paved road in Bossaso Port City". Garowe Online. 2 June 2014. Archived from the original on 5 June 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
- ^ "Puntland president lay foundation stone of new road". Goobjoog. 16 October 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
- ^ "SOMALIA: Galkacyo to have a new road". Raxanreeb. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
- ^ "Puntland Details Developmental Projects Galkacyo Town". Goobjoog. 17 February 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
- ^ "Somalia: Qatar pledges reconstruction of social services". Goobjoog. 9 November 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
- ^ "The police commission of Kismayo plans to bulldoze the illegal buildings along the main roads". Goobjoog. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
- ^ "EU AND GERMANY REHABILITATE GAROWE-GALKACYO CORRIDOR". Goobjoog. 11 March 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
- ^ a b "Somalia to revive national airline after 21 years". Laanta. 24 July 2012. Archived from the original on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
- ^ "Somalia regains control of its Airspace, but lacks Personnel management". Horseed Media. 17 December 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
- ^ a b c "Somalia". The World Factbook. Langley, Virginia: Central Intelligence Agency. 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
- ^ "Somali'ye Türk firma havalimanı yapacak". Aksam. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ^ "Mogadishu Aden Ade international Airport Flights double". Somalicurrent. 28 April 2015. Archived from the original on 1 May 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
- ^ "SOMALIA: H.E Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed lays foundation stone for the Aviation Training Academy at Aden Adde Airport". Raxanreeb. 23 April 2014. Archived from the original on 25 April 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
- ^ "Somalia: Puntland President lays foundation stone for Bossaso airport runway". Garowe Online. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
- ^ World of Information (Firm), Africa Review, (World of Information: 2003), p.299.
- ^ "World Airline Directory – Somali Airlines" (PDF). Flight International. 5 April 1995. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
- ^ "The long awaited Somali Airlines is Coming Back!". Keydmedia Online. 20 November 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
- ^ "Aviation". Somali Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
- ^ International Traffic Network, The world trade in sharks: a compendium of Traffic's regional studies, (Traffic International: 1996), p.25.
- ^ "Holidays in Mogadishu". Port Strategy. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
- ^ "The federal parliament of Somalia challenges the government's agreement with Turkish Company". Goobjoog. 3 April 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
- ^ "Somalia: Federal Parliament postpones vote on Seaport Management Deal". Garowe Online. 3 April 2014. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
- ^ "Somalia hands over Mogadishu seaport to Turkish company". Diplomat.so. 21 September 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
- ^ "Albeyrak press release on Mogadishu port stand off". Dalsan Radio. 30 September 2014. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
- ^ "Somalia: Bossaso port renovation project completes first phase". Garowe Online. 29 January 2012. Archived from the original on 23 February 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ^ "A Visionary, Faisal Hawar; Somali Public Radio Person of the Year 2012". Somali Public Radio. 13 January 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
- ^ Somalia: Somaliland naval forces attack crew in Sanaag region Archived 17 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Somalia: Puntland Minister of Ports visits Lasqoray". Garowe Online. 17 June 2012. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2012.