BOSASO, Somalia — July 18, 2026 —The Puntland government and representatives of Bosaso’s business community have reportedly reached an agreement on implementing revised port charges linked to DP World operations after a marathon meeting that lasted more than nine hours, according to sources familiar with the negotiations. The reported deal follows weeks of commercial disruption that shut down Bosaso Port, closed the city’s main market, and affected thousands of workers whose livelihoods depend on trade.
According to reliable sources, the meeting began earlier on Saturday at the Bari regional administration headquarters and brought together ministers representing the Puntland government and delegates from the Bosaso business community.
Sources said the discussions continued for more than nine hours before the two sides reportedly agreed on a revised handling fee for cargo entering through the section of Bosaso Port developed by DP World.
According to sources briefed on the talks, the government insisted that the handling charge be set at $5 per metric ton for goods transported through the 150-meter quay constructed by DP World. The proposal represents a reduction from the previously announced $7 per metric ton, which had become the main point of disagreement between authorities and traders.
While the handling fee was reduced, sources said all other additional charges introduced on imported goods would remain unchanged and are expected to be implemented.
Neither the Puntland government nor DP World had immediately issued a detailed public statement confirming the reported terms of the agreement at the time of publication.
Security Presence During Negotiations
Sources familiar with the meeting said security measures were significantly increased around the venue.
According to those sources, the Puntland government deployed a large number of security personnel and armored vehicles near the Bari regional administration headquarters while negotiations were underway.
The reason for the heightened security presence was not officially explained, although the meeting came amid heightened tensions following days of commercial protests and business closures.
Economic Disruption Across Bosaso
The dispute over the new port charges has disrupted commercial activity across Bosaso, Puntland’s main commercial hub.
The city’s central market has remained closed for nine consecutive days, while operations at Bosaso Port have been suspended for 18 straight days, according to local business sources.
The closures have interrupted imports, exports, transportation services, and wholesale trading, with businesses warning that prolonged disruption could affect the wider regional economy.
Fuel stations across Bosaso also suspended operations on Thursday and Friday in protest against the ongoing dispute.
During the protests, authorities detained the chairman of the fuel dealers’ association before later releasing him, according to local sources.
Impact on Workers and Residents
The prolonged shutdown has had a direct impact on daily wage earners and workers who rely on activity at the port and the city’s markets.
Port laborers, truck drivers, transport operators, market workers, and other informal sector employees have reported losing their primary source of income during the closures.
Several workers told local media that they had not experienced an economic slowdown of this magnitude in more than a decade of living and working in Puntland.
Business leaders have also expressed concern over supply chain disruptions and the financial losses resulting from the suspension of commercial activity.
Business Community Reportedly Divided
According to sources involved in the negotiations, Bosaso’s business community initially presented a united position opposing the new charges introduced at the port.
However, those sources said divisions later emerged among business representatives during the negotiations.
Several sources alleged that government intervention influenced the course of the discussions and contributed to the agreement eventually reached on Saturday.
Those claims have not been independently verified, and Puntland authorities have not publicly responded to the allegations.
The dispute centers on new port service charges associated with infrastructure developed by DP World at Bosaso Port.
The UAE-based global ports operator has invested in expanding and modernizing Bosaso Port under a long-term concession agreement aimed at increasing cargo capacity and improving trade infrastructure.
Business groups argued that the additional charges would increase import costs and place greater financial pressure on traders and consumers already facing rising operating expenses.
The disagreement escalated into coordinated business closures that affected the port, wholesale markets, and fuel distribution across the city.
Bosaso serves as Puntland’s principal maritime gateway and handles a significant share of imports destined for northeastern Somalia, making prolonged disruptions a concern for regional commerce.
Attention is now expected to shift toward the implementation of the reported agreement and the reopening of Bosaso Port and the city’s commercial market.
Business operators are also expected to monitor how the revised fee structure is applied and whether further discussions take place regarding the remaining charges that were left unchanged.
Officials have not announced when normal port operations and market activities will fully resume.
The reported agreement could help ease one of Puntland’s most significant commercial disruptions in recent years if it leads to the reopening of Bosaso Port and the city’s main market. Restoring trade would allow imports, exports, and transport services to resume after weeks of interruption.
The dispute also highlights the economic sensitivity surrounding port fees and infrastructure investments. Even relatively small increases in handling charges can affect import costs, supply chains, and consumer prices in a region that relies heavily on maritime trade.
For Puntland’s administration, restoring commercial activity is likely to be a priority as authorities seek to limit further economic losses and reassure businesses that Bosaso remains a reliable trading hub.
