Somaliland Bans UN Flights in Retaliatory Move

Hargeisa May 14, 2013 (SDN) – Somaliland’s minister of Civil Aviation and air transport Mr. Mohamoud Hashi Abdi has announced on Tuesday that Somaliland government has banned UN aircrafts from flying over, or landing in Somaliland and all grounded UN airplane can’t departure, without further notice. The announcement came after Somalia’s Federal government in Mogadishu announced on Sunday that they are preparing to take over the control of Somalia airspace by the end of this year. Mr. Mohamoud Hashi, ascertained starting 27th May, Somaliland, will have complete authority controlling its airspace. Also, starting June, Somaliland aviation will start collecting all charges fee from airlines using its airspace and all airlines using their airports. Somaliland Aviation minister, also warned SFG, if they pursue their decision of controlling airspace of what was known Somalia that might jeopardize continued dialogue between them. Mr. Hashi, accused UN and its agency of ICAO deliberately underscoring overlooking tripartite agreement between Somaliland, SFG and ICAO and formed committees consist them. Somaliland and Somalia’s airspace control has been under the Civil Aviation Caretaker Authority of Somalia (CACAS) which is a civil aviation authority programme created by the United Nations in 1996. CACAS has served as a caretaker for Somaliland and Somalia’s airspace since the collapse of Siyad Barre’s regime in 1991 and the subsequent inception of Somaliland as a independent coutry from the rest of Somalia. The organization has collected over-flight revenues on behalf of Somaliland and Somalia. Several attempts by previous Mogadishu governments to take over the service failed.

By: Eng. Abdirisak Ismail Qalinle (Itaqile)

SDN News Desk Hargeisa