No one cares about southern Somalia, Mogadishu and Kismayo are not at full capacity. The reason these new ports are being built is to supply the Somali region and eastern Oromia. Thatβs where the money is.
The FGS & Puntland will come to an agreement this year or early 2024. The problem facing Hobyo port is one of economic viability, that is a permanent obstacle.
HG understandably want to have the port, road and customs checkpoint inside HG territory. But if you have all of the corridor inside HG territory, it is far less efficient than it could be. Mareeg is a better location from an ROI standpoint for a Galmudug port. It is too bad for HG that Mareeg is majority Abgaal.
Puntland built a port where it would be most economically efficient. Garacad was under consideration for a port since the 1950s. It was not a new idea. Nothing to do with clan or xaasidnimo, these are businessmen trying to make money.