Hargeisa, (Hornpost) – The foundation stone for the Wajaale Valley Development Project marks one of the most ambitious economic initiatives announced by the Somaliland government in recent years. Turning the fertile plains of Wajaale into a modern agricultural and commercial zone could reshape trade, create jobs, and strengthen food security at a time when the country faces rising demand and climate pressures.
However, large development projects succeed only when the people they affect feel respected and included. Reports on land concerns and compensation disputes from sections of the local community should not be dismissed as background noise. They are legitimate issues that have derailed major infrastructure projects elsewhere in the region.
Somaliland has long prided itself on dialogue-driven governance and community consensus. The same principles must guide Wajaale. A transparent mechanism for land valuation, compensation, and relocation—if any—is not a luxury; it is a requirement for stability and social trust.
Politically, President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilahi’s involvement sends a clear signal: this project has the full weight of the state behind it. But with that political capital comes responsibility. A development initiative of this magnitude must be built not only on concrete and irrigation canals, but on public confidence.
If done correctly, Wajaale could become a model of how Somaliland leverages strategic geography and peaceful governance into real economic growth. If mishandled, it could fuel resentment and weaken the credibility of future national projects.
Somaliland has a rare advantage, its people support progress when they are consulted, informed and treated fairly. The government would lose nothing by engaging communities more openly, and it stands to gain a stable foundation for a project that could transform the western corridor of the country.
Wajaale is rich in potential. The next steps will determine whether it becomes a national success story or a missed opportunity.
Hornpost staff Reporter
