Somalia’s Federal Government has begun the design and feasibility study phase for a major road and bridge project in Hargeisa, with an initial investment of $20 million.

The project, announced on August 7, 2026, is part of the broader NAGAAD Programme, a $245 million urban resilience initiative supported by the World Bank and implemented in partnership with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

Public Works, Reconstruction and Housing Minister Ayuub Ismail Yusuf said the wider plan will cover approximately 45 kilometers of paved roads in Hargeisa.

The first phase, estimated at $20 million, will focus on upgrading 23 kilometers of roads and constructing or rehabilitating the Bundaweyn, known locally as the “Big Bridge.”

“This project is part of the Nagaad Project, which the Ministry of Public Works is implementing across Somalia’s federal member states,” Yusuf said.

The minister said the Hargeisa project forms part of a wider federal infrastructure program aimed at improving transportation networks and supporting economic development across the country.

According to Yusuf, the Ministry of Public Works is currently overseeing projects covering about 89 kilometers of roads across Jubaland, South West, Galmudug, Hirshabelle, Puntland and Somaliland.

The NAGAAD Programme, backed by the World Bank and other international partners, is designed to strengthen urban infrastructure, improve connectivity and enhance resilience in Somali cities.

The Hargeisa component is being presented by the federal government as part of its broader Dan Qaran development policy, which seeks to expand infrastructure investment across Somalia’s regions.

The project also carries political significance because of the longstanding dispute between Mogadishu and Hargeisa.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has operated as a self-governing entity, while Somalia’s Federal Government continues to regard Somaliland as part of the country’s territory.

The proposed federal-backed development in Hargeisa therefore comes at a sensitive time in relations between the two sides.

Somaliland authorities have historically maintained control over development and governance within the territory, and there had been no formal public response from Hargeisa regarding the federal government’s announcement at the time of reporting.

Beyond its political implications, the project is expected to address some of Hargeisa’s growing transportation and infrastructure needs.

If implemented as planned, the road upgrades and Bundaweyn Bridge works could improve movement within the city, strengthen links between urban areas and support commercial activity.

The initiative also reflects the federal government’s broader effort to present infrastructure development as a nationwide program rather than one limited to areas directly administered by Mogadishu.

Its implementation in Hargeisa, however, could test how development cooperation intersects with Somalia’s unresolved political and constitutional dispute with Somaliland.