Wednesday 21, May 2025 {HMC} The Federal Government of Somalia is preparing to implement major development projects focused on health and energy infrastructure in the Puntland cities of Bosaso and Garowe, despite ongoing political tensions between the federal and Puntland state leadership.
According to documents obtained, the projects are funded by the World Bank and were contractually signed in Mogadishu, signalling continued international development support channelled through the federal institutions.
In Garowe, the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources has announced a large-scale solar energy project, including the construction of a solar power plant to improve access to reliable electricity in the regional capital.
Meanwhile, in Bosaso, the expansion of the city’s main hospital has been approved, with the Federal Ministry of Health overseeing the project. The hospital extension is being implemented by Afrah Construction Company Limited, a Mogadishu-based firm selected through the United Nations Procurement Agency (UNPOS), which is also responsible for the construction’s design, management, and supervision.
These developments come as a notable shift, given Puntland’s previous stance of blocking federally initiated projects within its territory, such as the Galkayo–Harfo road construction. The current cooperation may indicate a pragmatic opening by Puntland to allow federal-led infrastructure efforts despite deep-rooted political disputes.
However, political sources in Puntland say tensions remain high. Federal projects are often viewed with suspicion, with critics accusing Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni of politicizing development efforts and leveraging them for political advantage.
Observers say while the implementation of these projects reflects progress in service delivery, the broader political rift between Garowe and Mogadishu remains unresolved, posing a challenge to sustainable federal-state cooperation.
