PM Barre Moves to Diffuse Tension at Mogadishu Airport

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Federal Government Somalia Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre Wednesday issued a directive to the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation following complaints by travelers at the Aden Abdulle Airport.

The directive, which was also directed to travel agencies operating within the airport, calls for an immediate resolution to the complaints brought forward by travelers and the elimination of the contentious fees that have been the subject of dispute.

The complaints followed a recent introduction of a $9 fee by the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation which was communicated to all travel agencies in Mogadishu.

The Ministry argued that the fee – said to be an advanced passenger information processing fee was in compliance with international standards applied globally, but passengers at the airport rejected the move, sparking a stalemate.

The Prime Minister, who arrived at the airport to respond to calls by the passengers for the government to intervene over the issue took the opportunity to engage with the affected passengers personally.

He expressed his regret for the inconvenience they have been subjected to and assured them of his commitment to rectifying the situation promptly.

The Prime Minister’s hands-on approach and his direct engagement with the public demonstrate his administration’s dedication to service and responsiveness to the needs of its citizens.