MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia has banned military and cargo aircraft operated by the United Arab Emirates from entering its airspace after Abu Dhabi was accused of facilitating the escape of Yemen’s separatist leader Aidarous Al-Zoubaidi using Somali airspace and airports.
Multiple Somali media outlets reported on Thursday that Mogadishu formally informed Abu Dhabi that its military aircraft are prohibited from using the country’s airspace, though UAE civilian flights remain exempt from the ban.
The decision follows reports that Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council (STC) leader, Aidarous Al-Zoubaidi, fled to the UAE via Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland, with some reports suggesting that the UAE airlifted him directly from Mogadishu airport.
Mogadishu has pledged to take “appropriate measures” if its investigation confirms the reports, although it did not specify what those measures would entail.
“The agency, in coordination with relevant national authorities, has launched an immediate investigation to verify the accuracy of these reports and to determine whether any breach of Somali law, established procedures, authorization protocols had occurred,” the Somali immigration agency said in a statement on Thursday.
“If confirmed, such actions would constitute a serious violation of Somalia’s national sovereignty and immigration regulations. The facilitation of fugitives or the conduct of unilateral operations on Somali territory without lawful authorization is unacceptable.”
Relations between Somalia and the United Arab Emirates have already hit a low point, particularly following Israel’s recognition of Somaliland last month. Somali officials suspect that Abu Dhabi played a significant role in Israel’s decision and may have been lobbying other countries to adopt a similar stance.
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