Bosaso (WDN)– Puntland’s most important commercial hub has remained at a standstill, with port operations and business activities suspended after a dispute over increased port charges forced traders to halt operations. The shutdown has also sparked growing public protests across the coastal city of Bosaso, raising concerns about the broader economic impact on Puntland and central Somalia.

According to local sources, commercial activity across Bosaso has slowed dramatically after the company managing Bosaso Port introduced what traders describe as a substantial increase in taxes and handling fees on imported goods destined for Somali businesses, particularly those operating in Puntland.

The dispute has now entered its 12th consecutive day, with reports indicating that no commercial cargo has been unloaded at the port since the standoff began. The prolonged shutdown has raised concerns about potential shortages of imported goods and the wider economic impact on Puntland’s business community.

As tensions mounted, hundreds of residents took to the streets of Bosaso to protest both the port management company and the Puntland administration, accusing authorities of failing to intervene and resolve a crisis that is increasingly affecting livelihoods and local commerce.

Protesters argued that importing goods through Bosaso has become significantly more expensive than using the ports of Mogadishu or Berbera. They maintained that the higher fees are undermining Bosaso’s competitiveness as Puntland’s principal gateway for international trade and placing an unfair burden on businesses already grappling with rising operating costs.

One Bosaso-based businessman said traders would not accept the additional charges, arguing that the increased costs cannot be justified given what he described as limited public services provided by the Puntland administration.

“The government does not cover healthcare, education, or water services, yet businesses are being asked to shoulder even higher taxes,” the trader said, expressing frustration over the growing financial pressures facing the private sector.

The closure of commercial operations at Bosaso Port has intensified concerns among economists and business leaders, who warn that if the dispute continues unresolved, it could disrupt supply chains, drive up consumer prices, and weaken one of Puntland’s most important economic lifelines.

Neither the Puntland government nor the company managing Bosaso Port had issued a comprehensive public response to the latest protests at the time of publication, leaving uncertainty over when negotiations might resume and commercial activity at the port return to normal.

WardheerNews