Tuesday September 17, 2024
Mogadishu (HOL) – Flights between Mogadishu and Baidoa were
temporarily halted on Tuesday morning, leaving passengers stranded at
Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport.
The disruption affected businessmen, students, medical
patients, and a deceased individual being transported for burial.
The federal government has not provided an official
explanation for the stoppage, although the flights were allowed to resume hours
later.
Spokesperson for the Southwest presidential palace, Mohamed
Ali Ibrahim, condemned the move as an attempt to "humiliate" the
people of Southwest state, vowing it would not be tolerated. Senator Adam
Abdinasir also criticized the federal government, calling the stoppage a
“blatant attack” on the Southwest community.
The Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) stated that there
have been no changes or interruptions to daily flights to Baidoa, though no
further details were provided.
The flight disruption comes at a time of escalating tensions
between the federal government and regional states, particularly over the
planned withdrawal of Ethiopian forces under the African Union Mission in
Somalia (ATMIS), set to conclude in December 2024. Both Southwest and Jubbaland
states have opposed the withdrawal, fearing it could destabilize security in
their regions.
Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre recently visited Baidoa in an
attempt to ease political conflicts between the federal government and
Southwest state leaders. The flight suspension has added to the already
delicate political climate, with regional leaders expressing growing
frustration over what they perceive as federal overreach.