Mohamoud Walaaleye
Somaliland’s Minister of Energy and Minerals, Eng. Ahmed Jama Barre, has called on electricity companies to present concrete plans to improve power services and reduce electricity costs, warning that high prices could undermine the country’s development ambitions.
The Minister said Somaliland has the highest electricity prices in the Horn of Africa, despite using similar resources for power generation as other countries in the region. He urged electricity providers to develop clear and practical strategies to improve service delivery and make electricity more affordable for the public.
Ahmed Jama Barre said the Ministry’s energy policy prioritises access to safe, reliable and affordable electricity for all, stressing that improvements in the sector are essential to the country’s wider economic development.
“Our goal, working with the electricity sector under the leadership of the Ministry, is always to ensure that we have reliable, affordable and safe electricity that reaches everyone,” he said.
“When we talk about prices, we know that ours are the highest in the entire Horn of Africa, even though we generate electricity using the same resources. We therefore want electricity companies to come forward with plans for improving the sector.”
The Minister warned that Somaliland’s development ambitions would remain unrealistic without significant improvements in electricity provision.
“If we do not develop the electricity sector, development will not come to this country. What we will be talking about will simply be an illusion,” he said.
His remarks highlight the challenge of balancing the expansion and reliability of electricity services with the need to reduce costs for households and businesses. Affordable and dependable power remains an important factor in supporting investment, industrial growth and economic development across Somaliland.