Somali lawmakers condemn flight ban to Jubaland, term it unconstitutional
The lawmakers specifically warned the Federal Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation and SCAA who are both responsible for civil aviation matters in the country for accepting to be dragged into politics and accepting to be used for political gains.
Eighty Members of Parliament and Senators from Somalia’s bicameral parliament on Thursday condemned and warned the Somalia Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) that the travel restrictions to Jubaland State was unconstitutional.
The lawmakers said the move was politically motivated and has affected hundreds of citizens.
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On December 24, SCAA issued a statement saying flight operators declined to fly to Kismayo due to a security breach against a Halla airline that on December 23 was allegedly taken over by unknown persons. However, Jubaland State Ministry of Transport and Aviation immediately issued a rejoinder dismissing the SCAA accusations that a Halla airline was kidnapped in Kismayo airport as false and baseless.
Since then, flights from Mogadishu to Kismayo, Dhobley and Doolow, all in Jubaland State have been stopped indefinitely affecting hundreds of passengers including the sick and elderly passengers. Doolow, located on the border with Ethiopia recently witnessed heavy clashes and violence including the busy Doolow airstrip.
Aviation sources confirmed that the said Halla airline was hired to carry Jubaland Officials to Doolow in the same State. That angered the Federal Officials prompting the indefinite flight suspensions to Jubaland State. Halla airline, SCAA and the Ministry of Transport could not be immediately reached for comment.
“We strongly condemn the Somali Civil Aviation Authority for its actions which contravene both national and international laws. We also condemn and blame the top leadership of the Federal Government of Somalia for giving wrong directives and for their continued and open violation of the rights of movement by citizens in their own country,” the statement signed by 80 lawmakers said.
The lawmakers specifically warned the Federal Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation and SCAA who are both responsible for civil aviation matters in the country for accepting to be dragged into politics and accepting to be used for political gains. The statements said in the past even lawmakers had been illegally barred from travelling to Baidoa and Kismayo to perform their constitutionally mandated tasks.
Hundreds of locals have been affected by the flight bans. Most travellers in southern Somalia depend on flights for travel due to the insecurity on land making it impossible to travel by road even for short distances. Al-Shabaab violence is mostly blamed on road insecurity with the militants known to attack both civilian and military convoys.
The lawmakers urged SCAA and the Federal Ministry of Transport and Aviation to immediately address the matter and ensure smooth operations of civilian flights in the country.
Political and military tensions
The civil aviation ban on Jubaland State comes hot on the heels of recent political and military tensions between Kismayo and Mogadishu largely fuelled by political differences over elections after the re-election of Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islan “Madoobe:” last month. Madoobe disagreed with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia who wanted Jubbaland to postpone its election and instead wait for a national universal election.
This is not the first time for the national government to ban flights to Jubaland State. In 2019 a similar ban was imposed by the Federal Government, then under President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, following a similar political difference also over elections.
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