Somalia Logistics Infrastructure
The following section contains information on the logistics infrastructure of Somalia.
As a result of the civil war in Somalia between 1988 and 1991
there was no functioning central government in control of the
entire country. The instability caused total neglect of the
country’s infrastructure resulting to deterioration in the sea
ports, airports, warehousing, electrical supplies, roads and
bridges.
Somalia’s infrastructure including energy, roads, airports,
seaports, urban services and settlement has been systematically
destroyed during the years of conflict and for it to start
functioning properly it needs major rehabilitation. The poor
condition of the infrastructure has adversely affected livelihoods
and is a serious constraint to its economic growth.
With the small resources available, including meager contributions
from the diaspora and local community, Somalia has embarked in
revamping its dilapidated infrastructure targeting existing ports,
warehouses, roads, electrical supplies etc. Important to mention is
that the rehabilitation process is taking place independently,
meaning those infrastructures in Somaliland and Puntland are been
planned and executed by semi-autonomous governments, while the
Federal Government in Mogadishu continues to extend its reach to
the South and Central parts of the Country.
Improvement in this section has greatly helped humanitarian
organizations to respond in case of emergency and in normal
situation humanitarian deliveries.
Considering the present congestion at Djibouti Port, it is believed
that Berbera Port has a potential to expand to become an important
alternative port for Ethiopia.
Despite of the improvements to Logistics Infrastructures there
still remains a lot of work to be done. For example, Berbera Port
has small shore cranes with the maximum capacity of 75 mt, no fixed
cranes; caseload of existing tarmac road is 10 – 20 mt trucks
capacity, seasonal rivers delaying truck movements during rainy
seasons etc.
Investing in improving infrastructure in Somalia will be beneficial
to the commercial and private sector and the entire community.
In 1999 – 2002 at the peak of the EU funded cross border operation
between Somaliland and Ethiopia, the EU also had plans to improve
the road between Tog Wajale to Berbera, which was to provide tarmac
where it was most required to improve the condition of the road.
However that plan did not materialize and road condition
deteriorates.