Why Is There Still No Proper Road Connecting Hargeisa and Burcao

I’ve been here for nearly a month and a half now, and one thing I keep asking myself is this: why is there still no proper direct road infrastructure connecting two of the most important cities in Somaliland? Hargeisa is the political, financial, and administrative center of the country, while Burco is one of the country’s biggest commercial, transportation, and livestock hubs. These two cities are absolutely crucial to the economy, trade, business, education, and movement of people and goods. A proper connection between them would benefit transport companies, businesses, traders, investors, students, families, and countless other sectors. Instead, people spend hours driving longer routes, wasting fuel, time, money, and productivity. Looking at the geography, it doesn’t even have to be a perfectly straight road. Engineers could design a route that makes sense and connects these economic centers efficiently. Yet here we are in 2025 still talking about what could have been done years ago.

The more I talk to locals of all ages about this subject, the more I keep hearing the same answer: tribal politics and land disputes. Whether that’s the whole story or only part of it, I genuinely don’t know, but if it’s true then that’s heartbreaking because infrastructure should benefit everyone regardless of clan or politics. A proper road wouldn’t just connect Hargeisa and Burco; it would create opportunities for towns and communities along the route and stimulate economic activity that doesn’t exist today. I’m patient with the current administration because they’re dealing with a lot and trying to stabilize the country after difficult years, and I don’t expect miracles overnight. But I do hope that projects like this become priorities in the future because these are the kinds of investments that change economies for generations. Am I missing something here, or does anyone else feel like this should have happened a long time ago?