All international flights have been suspended at Somalia’s Mogadishu airport. The flight operations have been suspended due to growing security concerns.
Reportedly, EgyptAir, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways and other major airlines have stopped all flight operations at Aden Adde International Airport situated in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital city.
Turkish and Qatari airlines have suspended their flights to Somalia since Wednesday, while today all flights have been suspended for fear of mortar shells falling on the airport as a result of the security challenge in the capital.
For over a decade, Somalia’s security forces have been fighting Al Shabaab, an armed extremist group. The armed group has been recently making gains in the vicinity of Mogadishu.
Last week, Al Shabaab fighters took control of Balcad, a town situated around 40 km away from the capital city. On February 27, mortars were fired at Mogadishu Airport when Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed landed at the airport.
On Tuesday, US Embassy in Mogadishu warned about attacks in Mogadishu. “The U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu is tracking credible information related to potential imminent attacks against multiple locations in Somalia including Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport,” the Embassy said.
Al Shabaab has intensified its operations in middle Shabelle from where it could advance towards Mogadishu. Ethiopian Airforce and US Airforce recently conducted airstrikes in Middle Shabelle to stop Al Shabaab’s advance towards capital city.
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