Garowe, Somalia — The inauguration of the newly constructed bridge in Garowe was hailed as a significant developmental achievement, but the event quickly became mired in a political dispute over who should take credit for the project’s execution.
On June 14, Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni officially opened the bridge, marking the completion of the second such bridge in Puntland’s capital. However, the ceremony was overshadowed by a disagreement between the Federal Government and Puntland, with both parties claiming to have played the leading role in bringing the project to fruition.
This new bridge is part of the NAGAAD project, which itself is a component of the broader Somalia Urban Resilience Project (SURP), funded by the World Bank. The project follows a joint governance framework involving the Federal Government, Federal Member States, and local district administrations, with the goal of enhancing urban resilience across Somalia.
The Federal Ministry of Public Works and Reconstruction issued a statement via SONNA, claiming credit for the bridge’s design and implementation, stating that it had completed the project in partnership with the World Bank. “The Federal Ministry of Public Works has completed a modern bridge in Garowe, as part of the national development agenda led by President Hassan Sheikh and Prime Minister Hamza Barre,” the statement read.
In contrast, President Deni argued that the bridge project was a rare success for Puntland, emphasizing that it was Puntland's management of the project that ensured its completion without interference. He dismissed the involvement of the Federal Government, especially in terms of funds management. "Those who want to misappropriate projects, leaving some of the funds behind in Mogadishu or Nairobi, while branding the rest with reputational damage — I will never accept that,” President Deni asserted.
The NAGAAD project operates under a joint governance framework: the Federal Ministry of Public Works coordinates and plans the project, while Puntland and other Federal Member States are responsible for the implementation and oversight on the ground. The World Bank serves as the financial backer.
Puntland’s stance highlights the region's desire to assert its executive autonomy, particularly when it comes to the management and implementation of key development projects. This dispute over credit reflects broader tensions between Somalia’s federal government and state-level administrations regarding power-sharing and governance.
