Gaalkacyo (WDN)- Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni on Tuesday officially launched the reconstruction of a strategic road linking the towns of Gaalkacyo and Bacaadweyn in the Mudug region—a 40-kilometer project fully said to be funded by the Puntland government.

The president, who is currently visiting Bacaadweyn, presided over a ceremony marking the commencement of construction on the paved road. Addressing attendees, he emphasized the project’s local ownership and funding.

“Today we laid the foundation for this 40-kilometer tarmac road, entirely financed through Puntland’s own revenue,” President Deni said. “This investment reflects the government’s commitment to development through domestic resources.” 

The groundbreaking event drew a wide range of participants, including the Second Deputy Speaker of Puntland’s House of Representatives, Mohamed Mahmoud Isse, members of the executive council, traditional elders, local intellectuals, and representatives from construction firms contracted to carry out the work. 

 The Puntland Galkacyo Road project was originally  funded through a combination of sources, including the European Union (EU) and the African Development Bank (AfDB), with Puntland contributing financially and taking responsibility for the project’s implementation.

Its not clear if Puntland will fully finance the road project, or still will use the  prior funds allocated for the project.

 The construction of the Galkacyo road is vital  to the economy of Puntland and expected to enhance regional connectivity, ease movement of goods and people linking the Port of Bosaso to Somalia’s central regions and the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia. However, a dispute between the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and Puntland led to the suspension of the project, sparking public discontent in Galkacyo over the management and direction of the infrastructure project. 

Opposition Voices Skepticism  

Not everyone welcomed the commencement of the project. Former Member of Parliament Awil Hassan Daad, a vocal critic of President Deni’s administration, dismissed the project as a symbolic gesture rather than a serious development initiative.  

In a statement to the media, Daad questioned the government’s capacity to deliver on such infrastructure promises, citing past failures and alleged financial mismanagement.  

“President Deni has failed to pay engineers their salaries, which is why many experts have left,” he claimed. “We’re calling for an end to these performative foundation-laying ceremonies that bring no tangible benefit. They only raise false expectations and deepen public mistrust.”  

Daad further accused the administration of using high-profile launches to distract from its failure to deliver basic services and maintain professional staffing levels within technical ministries.  

Despite such criticism, the Puntland government maintains that the Bacaadweyn–Gaalkacyo road project is a cornerstone of its infrastructure agenda aimed at bridging urban-rural disparities and fostering inclusive development. 

If completed as planned, the project will play a critical role in linking central Mudug to economic centers and essential services, while potentially attracting investment and boosting trade in the region. 

WardheerNews