Passenger flights suspended ahead of Mogadishu IGAD Summit

Local and international passenger flights to and from Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International airport were this morning suspended to pave way for the IGAD summit scheduled for today.

Airport officials confirmed the embargo with all non-essential staff given the day off Tuesday as per a notice issued on Sunday.

The airport is however open to planes carrying IGAD heads of Governments and States expected to attend the meeting.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and other federal leaders will pitch tent at the airport to welcome arriving dignitaries.

Preparations for the arrival of the dignitaries have been completed with the government implementing raft of security measures including closure of major city roads the past few days.

The Summit is expected to be held at a hotel near the airport whose security arrangement is now under AMISOM control.

Security in and around the airport has also been beefed up ahead of the Summit with heavy deployment of Special government forces and AMISOM personnel.