Somalia has halted commercial jets at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde airport in preparation for the arrival of Djibouti President Ismael Omar Guelleh on Wednesday.
Civilian flight operations at Aden Adde airport have been suspended, according to a statement issued by the Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA). The stated reason was “maintenance.” The travel ban does not apply to emergency or technical planes.
Somali officials shuttered critical highways in Mogadishu in preparation for Djibouti’s President and his delegation’s visit. Security has also been greatly strengthened at a number of critical checkpoints.
Several residents who spoke with HOL voiced displeasure with the road closures, claiming that they require them to walk or take extremely long diversions.
Residents were encouraged to be patient with security officers by the federal government.
According to reports, Ismael Omar Guelleh will attend a ribbon-cutting event for joint Somali-Djibouti development projects.
Guelleh’s visit to Mogadishu on Wednesday is his second since Hassan Sheikh was elected president in May.
President Mohamud was also one of the high-profile guests at Guelleh’s youngest daughter’s wedding earlier this month, when she married Sadak Omar Mohamed, Mogadishu’s ex-police commander.
Guelleh’s arrival coincides with the National Consultative Council meeting in Mogadishu of regional and federal authorities. The authorities are talking of federalizing the court, dividing authority between the federal and state levels, and continuing the war against Al-Shabaab.
