Qatar Plans to Build New Port in Central Somalia Town of Hobyo

[Suldaanka]

Mwani Qatar to build Hobyo Port in Somalia

WWW.GULF-TIMES.COM

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Mwani Qatar has entered into an investment partnership with the Somali side to construct the Hobyo Port in Mudug region of central Somalia ...

Mwani Qatar has entered into an investment partnership with the Somali side to construct the Hobyo Port in Mudug region of central Somalia, HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim bin Saif al-Sulaiti announced on Monday.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications said this investment reflects the strength of bilateral relations between Qatar and the Republic of Somalia, adding that this project is a key building block to the field of cooperation in maritime transport, and will contribute to opening new horizons of cooperation between the two countries for the benefit of the two peoples.

A ministry press release said the Hobyo Port will be designed and built according to the latest international standards and according to the highest standards in safety and security fields, in a way that will bring many economic benefits for Somalia in terms of the investment returns and the great business opportunities that the port will offer by enhancing the commercial relationship with new markets in Africa and access to international markets, in addition to providing maritime services to wider areas in Somalia.

The Hobyo Port is an important Somali harbour due to its proximity to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the most important sea crossing points in the world. It is also important due to its location in the Mudug region , which links the south and north of the country.

Mwani Qatar is responsible for managing the nation's seaports and shipping terminals. Alongside its oversight of the country's quays, dry ports, and container terminals, Mwani Qatar provides navigation assistance and pilotage, towage, and Aids to Navigation (AtoNs) as well as loading, unloading, cargo handling, and storage. It is also involved in developing seaports and related services in line with international standards.

[Suldaanka]

'Mwani Qatar' is Qatar's response to UAE's DP World.  It currently only operates Doha's main port and has signed agreements with Omar Al Bashir's Sudan to build a Terminal Port in that country. The deal with Omar Al Bashir could be on shaky grounds since UAE and Saudi Arabia are now running Khartoum new government. 

 

[Old_Observer]

35 minutes ago, Suldaanka said:

'Mwani Qatar' is Qatar's response to UAE's DP World.  It currently only operates Doha's main port and has signed agreements with Omar Al Bashir's Sudan to build a Terminal Port in that country. The deal with Omar Al Bashir could be on shaky grounds since UAE and Saudi Arabia are now running Khartoum new government. 

 

Both UAE and Saudi Arabia have common objectives:

1. Continuation of the Janjeweed militia fighting in Yemen for them

2. Not to have a revolution succeed in the Arab world

The accusation in Sudan is that the Military are just Al Bashir by another name. The military had said they will honor agreements with Turkey and Qatar previously. The opposition is also not too keen on siding with Saudi and UAE against Turkey and Qatar.

[maakhiri1]

Great news

[Suldaanka]

There was an economic need for a port in the Central regions. And it seems Hobyo Port is going to assume that position. 

Mogadishu was too far and had to go through too many check-points. Bosaso is too far and too small. 

The wider affect is that this will be seen as an economic assault on Puntland.

[Dahireeto]

Definetly an assault on Puntland. Why didn't they build it in Garacad which is 20 KM from Hobyo? Politics. 

Qatar is investing everyone Alshabab is active because that is how it will continue to fund the terrorism. 

[Che -Guevara]

 

 

 

1

1 hour ago, Dahireeto said:

Definetly an assault on Puntland.

See it as an opportunity for something new or different.

[Dalmar1]

2 hours ago, Suldaanka said:

There was an economic need for a port in the Central regions. And it seems Hobyo Port is going to assume that position. 

Mogadishu was too far and had to go through too many check-points. Bosaso is too far and too small. 

The wider affect is that this will be seen as an economic assault on Puntland.

 

1 hour ago, Dahireeto said:

Definetly an assault on Puntland. Why didn't they build it in Garacad which is 20 KM from Hobyo? Politics. 

Qatar is investing everyone Alshabab is active because that is how it will continue to fund the terrorism. 

 

Garacad has nothing to do with Galmudug as its an Puntland project, Hobyo is purely for the Galmudug state, a state that has not Port Currently.

So those who say that its an assualt on Puntland make no sense, because building Hobyo was always about building Galmudug state and its allies down South Somalia.

 

This is the Federalism era, so let every state build its own, same with Galmudug building its own Hobyo port and then closing its northern border off which will then confine Garacad port within Puntland which will then not affect Galmudug.

[gooni]

Waxaad naftaada la jeceshahay
Walaalkaana la jeclow

Balse aragtidayda caleenta iyo dhirta quruxda badan waxaa ka fiican carro sanka ama ciidda wanaagsan oo aad ku gam'i karto  kuna nabad geli karto dhib la'aan iyo cudur la'aan.

Waan ku waafaqsanahay daahireeto in garacad laga dhiso waayo waa carro san lagu gam'i karo.

Hobyo waxaa dhici karta in burcad badeed la wareegto dhib badana soo kordhiso

Wadada dheer meesha ay ka degaan reer hobyo 70 yaasiin yaa lagu maraa iyo 21 bisinka ilaahay 

Ka waran hadii lagu dhaho wadada dhinac uga leexo oo hobyo u safar?

 
 

[Dalmar1]

2 hours ago, Apophis said:

I agree that Hobyo port should be built but I would not trust any N&N and their financiers promises.

Until they deliver, it is an empty promise. Maybe for political aims.

Very true trusting N&N is akin to suicide, but as we all know that the Galmudug boys no matter how much you give or bestow upon will never choose you, look at HSM he gave so much yet in the election our voted didn't go to him, so im very sure same thing or worse outcome will dealt with farmaajo &kheire.

[galbeedi]

It is a good move. 

Somalia could accommodate a port in every 300 km. We are bordering a 100 million landlocked nation of Ethiopia. Some should be big container ports  while others should help local people export livestock and increase trade within the local economy. Trade is the only way to alleviate poverty.

Hobyo port is directly facing the gas rich country side ofv the Somali region. Pipelines from Shilaabo to Hobyo  is probably less than 500 km if you go directly without  going Gaalkacayo.  It is closer than both Berbera and Boosaaso.

If this project is built as promised, it might embarrass the UAE who had done nothing but manage Berbera and Boosaaso in order to keep others out. THe DP world is paying pennies (5 million a year) to Somaliland without any investment. THey never built the roads to Wajaale or any other investment.

If one want to know the evil of UAE , just look across the Red Sea in Yemen. They nurtured and built a South Yemen separatist army and are ready to leave  the country after creating a chaos. THey were the first who pushed the Saudis to invade and help the government, and now they are abandoning after getting a threatening message from Iran. They know that if war breaks in the region, they will be the first casualty.

The so called military base in Berbera is already abandoned by the UAE. They can no longer project power outside their country. If few more ships are targeted in the gulf , they will be abandoned by merchant ships and others for trade. This gulf fools immerse themselves with dangerous games without thinking. This time they are a sitting ducks. Who ever entered agreements with them is holding an empty bag including greedy Somalis.

Ir it were up to me , I would abandon the Arab league and the gulf totally. A rich kid who is playing money he didn't work for is always a disaster waiting to happen. Nations advance through hard work, technological know how and following a well thought wisdom.

Look at the ruler of Dubai. His own daughter tried to escape while publicizing her ordeal  in the media. She was captured and no one knows where she is. His own wife  , the daughter of king Hussein of Jordan escaped with her daughters with the help of a German national and settled in England.

This people are " Asfalu Saafiliin". They are the worst among the people of the earth, and everyone who associates with them will regret.

Just like the early Makkah residents who were seeking to extinguish every light of Islam during the time of the Prophet, the Emirates are trying to destroy the hopes of every Arab nation that tries to be democratic and accountable to the people. They are spending billions in Egypt to prop up the killer Al Sisi; they are trying to derail the people's revolution in Algeria and Sudan. But like the early Makkans, they will fail InshAllah.

 

 

 

 

[Duufaan]

Ports are not everything but good for the local economy. Hobyo has always been a port and it is location is perfect for the whole central Somalia communities to develop. Baraawe, Laasqorey, and Saylac should be next. I think Qatar is serious about this. For the 200 million is nothing for Qatar, the question is if local people and central government can grantee the security. There is nothing in place right now.

[Old_Observer]

galbeedi,

I am afraid you have forgotten two clear facts very fast in this case:

1. Ethiopia had 2 ports and 1000km sea coast for 40 years and for thousands years before that

2. Djibouti is like their country for the Ethiopians, share people and have invested billions in last decade. Ethiopians were willing to abondon all this for few billions from UAE.

 

How could Ethiopians trust Somalia more than Djibouti? How can Ethiopians trust Somaliland more than Djibouti (Here at least was not one or the other, it was 80%/20% of port business to Djibouti/Somaliland)

Pipeline km does not matter much. Take a look at the length Turkey went to from Euroasia to bypass Armenia. Went to Georgia a country Turkey does not trust, but can control any day. The pipeline at that part is 3 times longer than what could have been.

 

Habyo or Bassaso..are all beneficial to Kililka since they cover more territory with roads railroads, but I think the wishful thinking and uncertain future is killing the present Somalia, present Ethiopia...

What would you say if the Ethiopian regime changes tomorrow 180 degree?

 

 

[galbeedi]

9 hours ago, Duufaan said:

Baraawe, Laasqorey, and Saylac should be next. I think Qatar is serious about this. For the 200 million is nothing for Qatar, the question is if local people and central government can guarantee the security.

 

If we keep reading tribal propaganda, Farmaajo is a D block that is against certain tribes. Yet, he is building a port in the heart of central Somalia where most of his fervent oppositions hail from. Neither Hassan Sheikh nor Shariif Ahmed could it for Galmudug what Farmaajo is doing for those community.

In Awdal we have have economic, historical and family connection with Djibouti. It would be economically feasible to connect Djibouti to Borama and build that road which was in the plans for 40 years. Zaylac is also a historical place that should have a local port. Yet, none of those developments will happen while the Habro are in charge.

Same goes with Laasqoray. Neither Puntland nor Somaliland will build. That is why we have to dismantle these tribal " Spaaro" for the benefit of the larger public.

 

 

[galbeedi]

Amigos, by now , we all know you mastered in the art of misleading and altering things to fit your narrative. This picture is Saybeeriya, on of the districts leading to Amoud university.  The whole town of Borama is on the other side of the hills.

 

Borama is not a new town. This week it is celebrating its one hundredth (centennial)  year of its  founding in 1919.

In 1980 Borama had four neighborhoods or "Xaafado". Xalane, Ahmed Guray, Sheikh Cali Jowhar and Saybeeriya. It had four middle schools and three high schools, third only to Mogadishu and Hargeisa.

In 1994, airplanes used to land Borama and most of the NGO's operated in Borama until Cigaal moved all of them to Hargeisa. After the collapse of Somali state people had to move to their tribal homelands and the population had shifted to these places.

Also, Thousands of Somalis from east, south and north had moved due to  educational opportunities and the welcoming culture of the region. Thousands of Somalis from the diaspora had settled their for education and peace. When I visited in 2011 , they built another city within the city filling every park, bus stand , walkways and all open spaces between them without any urban planning.. Today it is the fourth largest city in Somalia behind Mogadishu, Hargeisa and Boosaaso. By the way, Burco is losing ground and its people are moving in large numbers to Hargeisa.

Of course peace  and stability within the Somaliland brings growth, but this town and region should be more prosperous than they are. Everything that is functioning is built by the locals, whether it is schools, universities, hospitals , roads and the water system.  I just talked to someone who just came from and he told me city, region or Somaliland services are zero. The town is littered with garbage  and no one is picking them up, while tax is collected from people. THe mayor chews Qat either in Hargeisa or Borama. 

Of course you see us small and insignificant, but we achieved this minor development with the economic blockade of the system. People had to pay head taxes to cross from Djibouti. Tens of thousands used to visit from Djibouti during the heat and spend money here, now , they are discouraged by the levy of hundreds of dollars at the border. Furthermore,  trade with the Somali region is closed for 25 years. Our coastal region is dying. Towns that were vibrant 30 years ago are dying. Old towns from Qulijeed, Boon, Xariirad, Lowyacado and Zaylac are dormant while LUghaya, Garbada, Baki and others from the interior are losing due to lack of trade within the region.

 

People can only reach their potential with less trade restrictions and movements of the people. Awdal is rich with minerals, agriculture and fish, yet  people are starving in coastal towns. What does it take to build a fishing port? millions of donor money is sitting in Hargeisa.

Look at Togdheer. When I visited their in the eighties , its livestock market was booming. goats and sheep were brought all the way from Hiiraan and Burco was the livestock market of all Somali region and Ethiopia from Gaashaamo to Godey. All that is gone , and if things flow the current trend Burco will be a ghost town.  Everyone has to go  Hargeisa to take part of the looting. Places like Burco could only prosper through the Somali state system. and trade with other Somalis than look west to Hargeisa. 

We were all complaining about the old centralized system, but the new one that replaced  is much closer to home but greedier and vacuuming money with impunity while  sending all  resources to one place called Hargeisa.

Ports, roads, trade and infrastructure is the way to develop the land and increase wealth. Having huge town filled with people who left their rural homes and villages is not a recipe for success. Unemployment in these cities are 70% . 

Of course we are better off than most places who do not have a hospital or water. Yet, it took us 30 years to bring everyone in one place with 70% unemployment and no way out .

Muxuu yidhi Sidi Sidaada mooye dhul u dhacaaga hubso.