Civil Aviation Authority Says in Control of Country’s Airspace, Rubbishes Claims by Ex-President

GOOBJOOG NEWS/MOGADISHU: The Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) has dismissed as ‘false’ allegations by former President Mohamed Farmaajo that the government had handed over the management of the country’s space to the UAE.

Reacting to the allegations, SCAA said the country’s airspace was firmly under its control noting that the remarks by the former head of state were ‘false.’

“Somalia’s air is a national symbol, and it has made significant progress since it returned to the hands of the Somali government,” SCAA said.

The authority added, “The Somali Civil Aviation Authority declares to the Somali nation that the country’s airspace can be handed over and there is no plan known by the government to make this possible.”

The Somali government took over control of the airspace from ICAO in 2018.ICAO had been managing the country’s airspace since 1991 following the collapse of the government and subsequent civil war.