British ambassador to Somalia under fire for suspending a road project

FILE: UK ambassador to Somalia Kate Foster has been in service for just few months

MOGADISHU, Somalia - An unexpected intervention by the UK ambassador to Somalia Kate Foster to terminate a critical road project midway is infuriating local communities in Galmudug and raising charges of regional bias.

The Galkayo to Hobyo Road Project enjoyed the strong community and donor support and was meant to improve connectivity. So far, the community has raised $6-million and built more than 150km of the road, with additional 120km remaining.

On September 19, 2019, community leaders with support from the Galmudug administration, met with the senior Somali Stability (SSF) and requested support to overcome the challenges the project is facing due to lack of reliable equipment. The meeting was hosted by the Norway Embassy and attended by embassies, development agencies, and representatives from the World Bank and African Development Bank.

The subsequent follow-up meetings with the Somalia Stability Fund and other donors had yielded a positive outcome and after the donors (Norway, Sweden, KfW, the UK, the Netherlands, Denmark, and the EU) had approved the delivery of the required equipment, the procurement process was initiated, and an Invitation for Quotations (IFQ) was advertised by SSF on January 24, 2020, according to people familiar with the discussions. Due to delays caused by COVID 19 and the SSF mandate extension, the IFQ was readvertised, and qualified suppliers were identified.

Community leaders now accuse ambassador Kate Foster of using dubious reasons to justify unilaterally rescinding support to the road project despite approval from other donors, Somalia Stability Fund, and independent assessors including Adam Smith International, which the embassy relies upon to assess the feasibility of UK-funded development projects in Somalia.

The leaders claim that the ambassador’s intervention to block a critical development project could irreparably harm the United Kingdom’s image with communities in Somalia, especially those in Galmudug and Hirshabelle who accuse the UK of playing favoritism when it comes to supporting Somali regions.

GAROWE ONLINE