Somalia refutes claims that it suspended flights to Kismayo

Mogadishu (Somaliland.com) -The Somali Civil Aviation Authority has dismissed media reports that it suspended flights to Kismayu noting it only directed airlines to seek authorisation 24 hours ahead of departure.
Yunis Dekow with the details.

Somalia’s government refuted claims that it has suspended flights to and from Kismayu, the main city in the country’s southern Jubbaland state.
The suspension was to last for three days and came ahead of the inauguration of Ahmed Mohamed Islam, known by his nickname “Madobe”, who was re-elected to lead Jubbaland in a disputed election last month.

The UN and the central government had wanted the vote to be postponed and have refused to recognise the results.

Somalia’s director of civil of aviation Ahmed Maalim has clarified flights en route to Kismayu from Mogadishu have not been suspended. Ahmed, however, says airlines are required to liaise with the aviation ministry 24 hours ahead of their scheduled time.

“I would like to clarify to the Somali People. There is no official announcement from the Somali government and the Somali aviation authority that bars flights from going to Kismayu. However, there is a directive from the Somali government that stipulates that Airlines must inform the aviation authority 24 hours ahead of their scheduled time”

An early statement from the government did not give a reason for the suspension of the flights to Kisnayu, but it was seen as an effort to stop politicians and other leaders from attending the inauguration of Madobe in Kismayu on Thursday.

On Sunday, the authorities stopped Somalia’s former President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed from travelling to Kismayu to attend the inauguration.
He has accused the government of violating the constitution by “restricting the movement of citizens”.