Somali President Flies on Somalia-Registered Aircraft for First Time in 35 Years

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU:  The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia has made history by flying aboard an aircraft officially registered under Somalia’s name, the first such journey in 35 years.

The aircraft, bearing Somalia’s aviation code “6-O” and flown by Somali-licensed pilots, represents a milestone in the country’s efforts to restore its national aviation sector after decades of collapse. For years, Somali leaders relied on planes registered in foreign countries, often bearing the flags and marks of other states.

The President was flying back home from Ethiopia where he had attended the Second Climate Change Conference in Addis Ababa.

The move has been hailed as a sign of progress and self-reliance in the aviation sector, at a time when Somalia is working to shed the image of dependency shaped by decades of conflict and instability. Business leaders and ordinary citizens alike have welcomed the development as a source of national pride and renewed optimism.

The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation recently announced plans to revive the former national carrier, Somali Airlines, which ceased operations in the early 1990s during the civil war. The revival project, part of broader efforts to modernize both domestic and