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Somalia’s Defence Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi has confirmed that planes have been flying from Bosaso, the commercial hub of Puntland, to Sudan — the first official acknowledgment after weeks of speculation and media reports linking the flights to Sudan’s ongoing war. Appearing before the Upper House on Wednesday, Fiqi said the federal government was aware of the flights but did not know what cargo they carried or who operated them. “Before the Somali people, I confirm there are planes departing from Bosaso Airport bound for Sudan,” he said. “However, we do not know what they transport or who operates them.”
The minister and the Somali National Army chief were summoned by senators to address concerns about national security, particularly reports of unregistered aircraft flying between Somalia and Sudan. His statement came after several investigations suggested that Bosaso had become a key point in the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) growing regional military network.
According to media outlets such as Hiiraan Online and Middle East Eye, UAE-linked cargo planes, including IL-76 models, have frequently landed at Bosaso Airport since 2023. These aircraft allegedly offloaded sensitive or “hazardous” materials before continuing toward Sudan. Local security officers said the shipments were closely guarded and transferred quickly, with no records showing they were meant for domestic use.
A separate joint investigation by The Guardian and La Silla Vacía in October reported that Bosaso’s UAE-operated base also served as a transit point for Colombian mercenaries heading to fight alongside Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Darfur. Flight data and interviews revealed that these soldiers were recruited under private contracts organized by companies linked to the UAE.
The United Nations Panel of Experts has since accused the UAE of violating international arms embargoes, saying it traced weapons and vehicles used by the RSF back to Emirati suppliers. The RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), has been accused of war crimes and mass killings in Sudan’s ongoing conflict, which has left more than 150,000 people dead and millions displaced since April 2023.
Satellite images analyzed by open-source intelligence groups show that the UAE has been constructing and expanding military installations along Somalia’s northern coastline, including in Bosaso and Somaliland’s Berbera. These facilities reportedly feature radar towers, fortified hangars, ammunition depots, and logistics yards that overlap with the UAE-trained Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF).
Former Somali Foreign Minister Abdisalan Muse Ali warned that if Somali authorities had knowingly allowed such flights, it could make the country complicit in supporting a force accused of atrocities. He called for an independent investigation into the flight records and cargo manifests since mid-2025, stressing that proven involvement could expose Somalia to international sanctions.
The reports have reignited debate over Somalia’s control of its airspace and the limits of federal authority in regional territories. Bosaso’s location along the Gulf of Aden makes it a valuable logistics hub but also leaves Somalia vulnerable to being drawn into wider regional conflicts.
Relations between Somalia and the UAE have long been complicated. While Abu Dhabi has provided funding and security assistance, tensions have risen in recent years as it built direct relationships with regional leaders, bypassing Mogadishu. Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni, a close ally of the UAE, has allowed the Emiratis to operate semi-independently in Puntland, a move that critics say undermines Somalia’s constitutional sovereignty.
Minister Fiqi’s remarks mark the first time Mogadishu has publicly admitted awareness of the flights, but he did not confirm whether an investigation was underway. Lawmakers have urged the defence ministry to identify the operators and cargo of the planes and ensure Somalia’s airspace and international aviation laws are respected.
Despite mounting evidence and growing international scrutiny, the UAE has denied supplying weapons to the RSF or running military operations from Somalia. Puntland officials have also declined to comment, while the Somali government has yet to announce whether it will pursue a formal inquiry.