Somaliland will never sit idle while others attempt to control or administer our skies- Airspace sovereignty is a national red line and the very emblem of our independence, he asserts
M.A. Egge.
The President H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro conducted on Saturday a working inspection tour to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airport Development (MoCA) where he met the Minister and senior officials. He chaired a high-level national airspace coordination meeting and also officially inaugurated new buildings and services added to Egal International Airport.
Minister of Civil Aviation and Airport Development, Hon. Fu’ad Ahmed Nuh, briefed the President in detail on the progress of operations at Egal International Airport and the Ministry as a whole, as well as the improvements made to flight services and public facilities at the capital’s airport.
During the tour, the President inspected the newly upgraded Flight Information Centre (FIC), now equipped with modern systems that enable full upper-airspace management and aircraft guidance for all flights using Somaliland’s airspace corridors.
The President praised the Minister, Deputy Minister, Director-General and the entire Ministry staff for their tireless efforts to modernize the national aviation system, upgrade airports and raise the quality of flight services. He stressed that civil aviation is the backbone of national connectivity and Somaliland’s reputation on the global stage.
President Abdirahman Irro declared that his administration accords the highest priority to safeguarding the sovereignty of Somaliland’s airspace and building complete technical and administrative capacity so that Somaliland can formally and independently manage its own skies.
National Airspace Coordination Meeting
Immediately after the inspection of the airport facilities, the President chaired the Somaliland Airspace Management High-Level Coordination Meeting. The closed-door session addressed critical issues of airspace governance, sovereignty, flight safety, the e-Visa question and the optimal framework for upgrading air-traffic communication and international flight management.
The President had appointed a high-level national coordination committee meeting, chaired by the Minister of Civil Aviation and comprising the Ministers of Interior and National Security, the Presidency, Defense, and the President’s Legal Adviser, to oversee policy, regulation and strategic advice on upper-airspace matters.
Communiqué Issued
The meeting concluded with a strong National Declaration on Somaliland Airspace Sovereignty. Key articles include:
- The Government of the Republic of Somaliland hereby notifies the international community that full sovereignty, management and safety oversight of the airspace over its land, territorial waters and air belongs exclusively to Somaliland. Any use of this airspace requires prior authorization solely from the Somaliland Ministry of Civil Aviation, in strict accordance with national laws and international conventions.
- The Republic of Somaliland categorically rejects and declares null and void the recent “e-Visa” issued by Somalia. That document has no legal effect in Somaliland territory and cannot be used for entry.
- Effective 10 November 2025, every aircraft operating in or overflying Somaliland airspace must obtain prior overflight clearance issued exclusively by the Somaliland Ministry of Civil Aviation.
- Somaliland appeals to the international community, UN agencies, ICAO, IATA, global aviation authorities and all flight-service partners to recognize the grave danger posed to civil aviation by Somalia’s unilateral actions that interfere with Somaliland’s sovereign airspace management.
In closing the meeting, President Abdirahman Irro stated unequivocally, “Somaliland will never sit idle while others attempt to control or administer our skies. Airspace sovereignty is a national red line and the very emblem of our independence.”