EU Ambassador Berlanga visits Somaliland, launches controversial development project

The EU ambassador to Somalia Mr. Nicolas Berlanga, has arrived in Somaliland on an official visit, on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the envoy met with the President of Republic of Somaliland Muse Bihi Abdi, the Speaker of House of Representatives, the Chief Justice. Also, the delegate also visited Berbera to launch new development projects.

Nicolas Berlanga and his delegate are overseeing large projects in Somaliland funded by the European Union. The projects range from infrastructure, elections and democracy, and security.
Yesterday, the EU Special envoy traveled to the port city of Berbera and held talks with Berbera Mayor, Berbera Port authorities and Somaliland Coast guard.

The meeting between Berlanga and Berbera Mayor, Abdishakuur Iddin, was announced the start of development and infrastructure projects valued at € 7.5 million Euros in the district of Berbera.
The Somali Federal Gov’t said in August this year that it signed an aid accord with the European Union of € 22.5 million Euros whereby 7.5 million of it, is allocated for the development projects in Berbera, Somaliland.

The Somali Federal Govt said that it named the project as Yarisow Projects in honor of the late Mogadishu mayor, Mr. Abdirahman Yarisow, who was killed in an attack on the mayor’s office.

At that time, Somaliland gov’t issued a statement protesting against the agreement signed between Somali Federal Administration and the European Union which included developmental projects in Berbera.
The Somaliland government promised to block the Yarisow project which they said has nothing to do with Somaliland and will not be carried out in the Somaliland Soil

The mayor of Berbera, Mr. Idin, himself stated that he made great efforts and two trips to Europe to bring this project to his district.