In brief
- Somaliland's Minister of Civil Aviation, Fu'aad Ahmed Nuh, has denied that any new air traffic management agreement has been reached with Somalia.
- The denial responds to a claim by the Director of the Somali Civil Aviation Authority, reported by Somaliland Standard, that an agreement had been reached.
- The Minister also said a Somaliland delegation is in Canada seeking review of a 2013 airspace agreement and that a formal complaint has been filed with unspecified UN aviation agencies.
Somaliland's Minister of Civil Aviation, Fu'aad Ahmed Nuh, has denied that Somaliland has entered into an air traffic management agreement with the government of Somalia, according to a report by Somaliland Standard.
In an exclusive interview with BBC Somali, the Minister stated that no new agreement has been reached between the two sides concerning aviation matters. The denial refutes a statement by the Director of the Somali Civil Aviation Authority, whom the paper did not name, that an agreement regarding air traffic management had been reached.
The Minister said the Somali government is relying on a 2013 agreement between the two sides that, according to him, stipulated that the management of airspace should be transferred to Somali hands. He accused the Somali government of subsequently taking sole control of airspace management, thereby violating the terms of that agreement.
A delegation from Somaliland is currently in Canada to seek a review of the 2013 agreement, the Minister told Somaliland Standard. He said UN agencies responsible for aviation are headquartered in Canada and that a formal complaint regarding the issue has been filed there. The report does not name the agency, the complainant, or the date of filing.
Separately, the Minister addressed Somali electronic visas. He said that if a traveler arrives at Hargeisa Airport with a Somali-issued eVisa, it is cancelled and replaced with a Somaliland visa. He claimed Somalia's eVisa system has been hacked on several occasions, endangering the personal data of Somaliland residents. He described the visa situation as detrimental to international standards and reiterated that Somali government systems do not function within Somaliland.
Somaliland Standard also carried a related headline stating that the Somali government says it has reached an agreement with Somaliland on the eVisa dispute. The underlying article is not included in the report, and the claim cannot be reconciled with the Minister's denial of any new aviation agreement.
The report does not establish that an air traffic management agreement was signed, nor does it provide evidence for the hacking claims or the cancellation of Somali eVisas at Hargeisa Airport.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly did Somaliland deny?
Somaliland's Minister of Civil Aviation denied that Somaliland has entered into any new air traffic management agreement with the government of Somalia.
Why is airspace control important for construction and infrastructure?
Control of airspace affects aviation operations, airport development and the regulation of flights, which are critical for transporting personnel, equipment and materials to construction projects in Somaliland.
What are the implications for ongoing aviation projects?
The dispute over airspace management could create uncertainty for air navigation services and airport operations, potentially affecting the planning and financing of aviation infrastructure in Somaliland. However, the report does not detail specific projects.