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Somaliland authorities have ordered all airlines to stop routing passengers through Mogadishu when traveling to or from Hargeisa, escalating an ongoing dispute with Somalia over who controls visas, airspace and aviation security. The new directive, which takes effect on December 1, bans airlines from selling tickets that involve a Mogadishu connection for passengers departing Hargeisa to other countries or arriving from abroad on their way to Hargeisa. Somaliland’s Ministry of Civil Aviation said the decision was based on security concerns and aligned with international aviation safety standards.
According to the ministry, passengers traveling from Hargeisa to any international destination, and those arriving from outside countries to Hargeisa, should not pass through Mogadishu under any circumstances. Airlines serving Somaliland were instructed to immediately remove Mogadishu-linked routes from their booking systems. The ministry said it remains committed to maintaining strict national and international safety protocols.
This latest move comes after months of travel disruptions linked to Somalia’s electronic visa system, introduced on September 1. The Somali federal government required all international travelers, including those heading to Hargeisa, to obtain a federal e-visa before boarding any flight. Somaliland and Puntland rejected this rule, saying immigration matters fall under their own administrations. Somaliland continued its visa-on-arrival system at Hargeisa’s Egal International Airport and insisted that only its own immigration documents were valid for entry.
The conflicting rules left many passengers stranded in Dubai, Nairobi and Addis Ababa as airlines began enforcing Mogadishu’s visa requirements. Some were denied boarding, while others paid double visa fees because Somaliland rejected federal e-visas when they landed.
Somaliland’s Waddani opposition party accused Somalia of using the e-visa system to target and inconvenience Somaliland travelers for political reasons. In early November, Somalia’s Civil Aviation Authority warned Flydubai after a passenger entered Hargeisa without a federal e-visa, saying the airline had violated Somali immigration rules and could face penalties or flight suspensions.
Somalia insists that only the federal government has the legal authority to regulate visas and manage the Mogadishu Flight Information Region, which oversees all air traffic across Somali territory. Somaliland responded by ordering airlines to seek clearance directly from its own aviation authority before entering Hargeisa or crossing Somaliland’s airspace. The ministry claimed that around 90 aircraft pass through Somaliland’s skies daily and that almost 40% were already following its permit system. However, some reports suggested that Flydubai had resumed asking passengers traveling to Hargeisa or Berbera to present Somali federal visas.
Tensions grew further after the U.S. Embassy confirmed on November 14 that more than 35,000 applicants’ personal information had been exposed in a breach of Somalia’s federal e-visa platform. The leaked data reportedly included passport details, photos, home addresses and payment information. Somaliland and Puntland pointed to the breach as proof that Mogadishu’s system was unsafe.
With two competing aviation authorities and two different immigration systems, airlines now face conflicting instructions. Travelers have reported delays, denied boarding, extra fees and inconsistent rules, while several countries have issued travel warnings.
The dispute also highlights a long-term struggle over control of Somali airspace. Somalia regained management of its skies in 2023 after years of international oversight and insists that Mogadishu’s air traffic control is the only legally recognized authority. Somaliland argues that it controls its own airspace and accuses Somalia of mismanaging millions of dollars meant for air traffic and airport development. Aviation experts have warned that the dispute has created safety risks, including near-miss incidents involving major airlines caused by conflicting instructions and unauthorized radio transmissions near Hargeisa. Some airlines, including Ethiopian Airlines, have already rerouted flights to avoid the contested area.
Somaliland’s leaders have described Somalia’s policies as a direct challenge to its sovereignty, saying the clash over airspace and visas has now turned into a broader political confrontation.