MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s former ambassador to Kenya, Mohamed Nur Tarsan, has called on President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s government to take firm action against Ethiopian Airlines after the carrier stopped enforcing Somalia’s new e-visa requirement for passengers travelling to Somaliland.
The dispute follows a directive from authorities in the self-declared republic of Somaliland warning that international airlines could face bans if they demanded passengers obtain the Somalia’s e-visa. Ethiopian Airlines subsequently decided to allow travellers to Hargeisa to obtain visas on arrival, effectively rejecting Mogadishu’s order.
The Somali government recently introduced an electronic visa system covering the entire country, including regions outside its direct control. The e-visa costs $64 per entry and was designed to streamline entry procedures and generate revenue. However, the move has deepened confusion among passengers flying to Somaliland, which has operated independently for more than three decades despite lacking international recognition.
Airlines serving Somali destinations were instructed to ensure all passengers held the e-visa before boarding, a rule that quickly sparked travel complications. Many members of the Somali diaspora and regional officials travelling to Hargeisa reported difficulties and extended layovers, particularly through transit hubs in the United Arab Emirates.
Tarsan criticised Ethiopian Airlines’ stance as a challenge to Somalia’s sovereignty and urged the government to consider banning the carrier from Somali airspace and airports. His remarks come amid already tense relations between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa.
FlyDubai, another major airline operating flights to Somaliland, is also under pressure to decide whether to comply with Somaliland’s order or risk being barred from landing in Hargeisa.
The Somali authorities have not yet announced whether they will take retaliatory measures against Ethiopian Airlines, but the standoff underscores the enduring political and administrative divide between Mogadishu and Somaliland.
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