Somaliland’s Minister of Aviation and Airport Development, Fuad Ahmed Nux, has issued a strong declaration, vowing that the region will reclaim full control of its airspace from the government in Mogadishu.
The Minister’s statement followed a high-level meeting with the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Somaliland House of Elders, where the management of the critical air corridor was the central topic.
Minister Nux termed the current arrangement, where the Somali government controls Somaliland’s skies, as ‘an error’ that must be swiftly rectified.
“The negotiations that previous administrations held with the Somali government resulted in Somalia managing our airspace,” the minister stated. “But now our plan is to reclaim the management of our airspace.”
The push comes amid tensions, specifically over Somalia’s recent implementation of a new E-visa system. The visa compels Somaliland citizens – including politicians – to apply for an entry visa or obtain a Somali passport to access Somalia, in actual sense forcing them to recognize Mogadishu’s authority. The latest development comes more than 30 years after Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia.
The minister noted that Somaliland’s position on airspace matters has been shared with countries like Ethiopia and the United States.
