Mogadishu – In a recent development, the Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) has made a critical decision to deny access to an Ethiopian Airlines flight scheduled to land at Egal International Airport in Hargeisa. This decision, announced on Wednesday, highlights a growing diplomatic rift between Somalia and Ethiopia, intensified by a controversial agreement signed between Ethiopia and the self-declared independent region of Somaliland.
The flight in question, a Dash 8-Q400 with the flight number ET8372, was en route from Addis Ababa to Hargeisa when it was compelled to return. According to Flightradar24, a flight tracking service, the aircraft departed Addis Ababa at 8:32 AM, only to be rerouted near Jigjiga in Ethiopia’s Somali region, and returned to Addis Ababa by 10:20 AM. This incident marks a rare occurrence for Flight ET8372, which had no prior recorded history of such diversions.
The SCAA’s statement emphasized adherence to international aviation rules and Somalia’s own regulations, necessitating flights to obtain clearance from both the countries they fly over and their intended destinations. This incident signifies a strict enforcement of these rules by the Somali authorities.
Ethiopian Airlines’ CEO, Mesbi Tse, acknowledged the incident in a conversation with the BBC Amharic Service, stating that the flight to Hargeisa had to return due to uncertainties over the necessary permissions from the Somali government. Tse refrained from providing additional details about the aircraft and its passengers.
The backdrop of this aviation drama is the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) inked on January 1, 2024, between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi. This agreement, involving a 50-year lease of a coastal stretch along the Gulf of Aden and a stake for Somaliland in Ethiopian Airlines, has been a point of contention. Redwan Hussein, national security adviser to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, indicated that negotiations over the stake in Ethiopian Airlines are expected to conclude soon, despite international scrutiny.
Adding to the complexity, BBC Somali reported the arrival of Ethiopian presidential guards in Hargeisa just a day before the flight incident, signaling a high-level Ethiopian delegation’s visit.
As a reaction to the unapproved flight, the Somali government temporarily halted all inbound flights from Ethiopian Airlines, a suspension lifted following the flight’s reroute. Subsequently, a scheduled Ethiopian Airlines flight successfully landed in Hargeisa.
The SCAA reassured travelers of the continuation of regular flight operations, underscoring their firm stance against unauthorized flights in Somali airspace. Egal International Airport in Hargeisa, primarily served by Ethiopian Airlines with a significant 45.9% weekly market share, continues to operate flights from various international locations, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kenya, amidst its contentious status.
