By Zamzam Daqare - Reporter
MOGADISHU, 26 September 2026 Somalia's Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has pledged that the federal government will rebuild Bardhere Bridge in the Gedo region, saying the government will also engage with residents and work on issues supported by local communities.
Hamza made the remarks in an interview with Dawan's Miizaan Podcast, published on Saturday.
"We promise that we will rebuild that bridge," Hamza said.
The prime minister described Gedo as a region with particular circumstances, noting that it is one of Somalia's largest regions and is vulnerable to droughts and floods.
Hamza accused the Jubaland administration of neglecting Gedo during its time in office, saying that when his government took office, different administrations were operating in the region.
The prime minister said President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had previously appointed an administration in the area that had the approval of local residents, but criticised Jubaland leaders for not regularly visiting towns in the region.
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He also said Gedo faces infrastructure challenges, describing the destruction of Bardhere Bridge as one of the most significant problems currently affecting the region.
Hamza said local residents had attempted to address the bridge problem themselves, but that the scale of the reconstruction project was beyond the capacity of the community alone.
The federal government is working with the World Bank and the African Development Bank on plans to rebuild the bridge, he said.
"We are currently working on it with the World Bank and the African Development Bank. It has reached good stages, and we are now at a good point," Hamza said.
The prime minister also said the government would reorganise federal forces stationed in Gedo and that its plans for the region would extend beyond the reconstruction of Bardhere Bridge.
"We will go to the people, and we will do what they are satisfied with," Hamza said.