Civilians flights from Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, to regional states have been suspended. Hundreds of passengers have been stranded at Mogadishu and other airports in the country.
The flights suspension came amid ongoing confrontation between Jubaland regional state and Mogadishu based federal government of Somalia. This week Jubaland warned airlines against flying to Ras Kambooni airport. The airport is under the control of federal forces and it is being used by federal government to send more federal troops into Jubaland. A week ago, Jubaland gave 15-day ultimatum to federal forces in Ras Kambooni to withdraw from Jubaland.
Some Somali sources claim that airlines decided to suspend flight operations at Mogadishu airport after federal government pressurized them to transport troops from Mogadishu to Ras Kambooni.
Somalia does not have a full fledged air force. For years, it remained under arms embargo imposed by the UN. It was last year in December that UN security council lifted arms embargo on Somalia. Since Somalia does not have a full fledged air force, it uses civilians aircrafts to transport troops from Mogadishu to regions.
Somalia is in the process of rebuilding its ground, air and naval forces. Egypt and Turkey are helping Somalia in this regard.
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