2.2.2. Mobility and accessibility

Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal International Airport is the main entry and exit point for flights to/from Somaliland. It is located in the south of the city. It was initially constructed as a military base in the 1950s. After the civil war in northern Somalia and the unilateral declaration of independence of Somaliland, the airport primarily served humanitarian purposes. From the mid-2000s, the number passenger and cargo flights increased markedly. It was rehabilitated in 2012, including the expansion of the runway and the implementation of enhanced security measures and technologies. As of June 2024, Hargeisa International Airport facilitated international flights to Addis Ababa (operated by Ethiopian Airlines), Dubai (serviced by Daallo Airlines and Flydubai), Nairobi (operated by Daallo Airlines, and Jubba Airways) and Djibouti (Djibouti Air). Domestically, it was connected to Mogadishu (operated by African Express, Daallo Airlines, and Jubba Airways), Galkayo (operated by Jubba Airways), Garowe (operated by Jubba Airways), and Bosasso (operated by Jubba Airways).1041

Roads in Hargeisa are of very varied quality. Despite ongoing rehabilitation efforts, road conditions are still often poor, and there are insufficient road signs and traffic lights. This in combination with insufficient vehicle maintenance, the younger age and aggressive behaviour of some drivers, and the lack of education contributes to the frequency of traffic accidents in the city.1042 Additionally, water trucks that are frequently used in Hargeisa and vehicles transporting khat (coming from Ethiopia) are causing traffic problems including accidents.1043

There are many bajaajs (motor rickshaws) operating in Hargeisa, but also still mini-buses. Despite the poor infrastructure in Hargeisa, public transport is the most common form within the city. IOM found in 2022: ‘Big public buses charge around 2,000 Sh. SL ($0.20) to 3,000 Sh. SL ($0.40). Hargeisa also has an uber-like taxi system known as Dhaweeye. Residents request the services of Dhaweeye using an app or a short code (*3000#) with a minimum charge of $1 with increments of $0.5 per KM.’1044 In the city there are no checkpoints (except ad hoc ones). Around the presidential palace, the road is blocked (since the Al-Shabaab attacks in Hargeisa in fall 2008). At the main entrances to the city, coming from the west (Gabiley) and the northeast (Berbera), there are checkpoints mainly for custom checks.1045

There are no formal requirements and restrictions with accessing and settling down in Hargeisa.1046 However, citizenship of Somaliland is regulated by a specific citizenship law, which, according to article 2(1) awards citizenship by birth only to those ‘‘whose father is a descendent of persons who resided in the territory of Somaliland on 26 June 1960 and before.’’1047 Other Somalis can settle in Hargeisa and also some refugees from Ethiopia, Yemen and other places reside there.1048

No publicly available information could be found on this topic during the time limits of the research.