Somalia’s Aviation Overreach Demands Firm, United Response from Somaliland

[Deeq A.]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: September 7, 2025

Somalia’s Aviation Overreach Demands Firm, United Response from Somaliland

Hargeisa, Somaliland – The Federal Government of Somalia has instructed international airlines not to transport any passengers to Somaliland unless they hold a visa issued by Somalia. This directive is not only politically motivated and legally baseless — it is a direct attack on Somaliland’s sovereignty and its jurisdiction over its own airspace.

Somalia, which controls only Mogadishu’s airport, has no legal or operational authority over Egal International Airport in Hargeisa or any other part of Somaliland. This attempt to regulate travel to and from Somaliland is an aggressive overreach designed to:

1. Falsely assert sovereignty over Somaliland, which has operated independently since 1991.

2. Restrict travel to Somaliland, particularly for individuals not aligned with Somalia’s political goals.

3. Illegitimately extract revenue from aviation activity it neither manages nor supports.

Somaliland Has a Strong Legal Case

Under international aviation law and ICAO principles, airspace and airport authority is based on actual operational control and governance. Somaliland has:

1. Independently operated and maintained Egal International Airport for decades.

2. Signed and managed aviation agreements with international and regional carriers.

3. Complied fully with ICAO safety, security, and operational standards.

4. Provided all airport and air navigation services without any support from Somalia.

These facts give Somaliland a clear legal basis to challenge Somalia’s interference at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and other international forums.

Somalia’s directive violates ICAO norms of non-interference, state responsibility, and safe access to international air services. Despite this, the Somaliland Ministry of Civil Aviation has responded inadequately, lacking urgency and strategic direction in protecting Somaliland’s national interests.

Now is the time for Somaliland to stand united and act decisively.

This is more than an aviation dispute — it is a calculated political move to undermine Somaliland’s independence, damage its economy, and delegitimize its state institutions. We must stand together and support the government in defending the country’s sovereignty.

The Government of Somaliland Must Take Immediate Action:

1. File a formal legal complaint with ICAO and other relevant international bodies.

2. Engage directly with airlines and aviation partners to assert legal and operational control.

3. Strengthen internal coordination and preparedness to defend against future interference.

The people of Somaliland must demand accountability, action, and results from the Ministry of Aviation and all relevant authorities. Silence and inaction are no longer acceptable.

Issued by:
Somaliland Forward
Somaliland Forward advocates for Somaliland’s full international recognition and its rightful place among the community of nations

Qaran News