By HAN News Desk
DUBAI – Somaliland’s Minister of Defence was reportedly delayed at Dubai International Airport after being asked to obtain an electronic visa (E-visa) before boarding his flight to Hargeisa, highlighting ongoing confusion surrounding new travel regulations for passengers bound for Somaliland.
According to airport sources, the minister was briefly held by immigration authorities who informed him that he needed to apply for an E-visa for entry into Somaliland before being allowed to continue his journey. The minister later completed the process online and proceeded to Hargeisa.
The incident has drawn attention to discrepancies in how airlines handle the E-visa system for passengers travelling to Hargeisa. Reports indicate that Ethiopian Airlines has been reluctant to fully implement the new system, causing inconvenience for travellers who are forced to pay additional fees—one for the ticket and another for visa processing.
By contrast, FlyDubai is said to have accepted the Somali government’s E-visa system, allowing passengers bound for Hargeisa and Mogadishu to board without difficulty once they present proof of online visa approval.
Travel agents and passengers have voiced frustration over the inconsistent application of visa rules, warning that the confusion could discourage travel and impose unnecessary financial burdens.
The Somali E-visa system was introduced to streamline entry procedures and improve border management, but uneven adoption by airlines has created logistical challenges—especially for those travelling to regions like Somaliland, which operates autonomously but remains internationally recognized as part of Somalia.
Meanwhile, the Chief Justice of Somaliland, Aadan H. Cali, has warned that Somaliland could be facing “the largest conflict in its history,” urging the public and government institutions to prepare for what he described as a serious and prolonged confrontation.
Speaking during a recent address, the Chief Justice said:
“Somaliland is being drawn into the biggest war in its history. We must be ready for it.”
He added that FlyDubai Airlines had come under pressure as part of the ongoing tensions, suggesting that the airspace conflict has been building for a long time and is “not an easy one.”
“The air conflict has been ongoing for a long period — this is not a simple fight,” he said.
The Chief Justice also urged the government to develop a comprehensive strategy to respond to the current situation, indicating that the issue involves more than political rhetoric.
“The government must come up with a clear and coordinated plan,” he said.
Although he did not specify the exact nature of the conflict, his remarks come amid growing tensions between Somaliland and the Federal Government of Somalia over control of airspace management and international aviation coordination.
The dispute has recently affected major airlines, including FlyDubai and Ethiopian Airlines, as the two sides contest authority over E-visa issuance and flight clearances for passengers travelling to Hargeisa.
Analysts say the strong language from the judiciary’s top official signals deepening frustration within Somaliland’s leadership as it faces increasing political and diplomatic pressure related to its unrecognized status and disputes with Mogadishu over sovereignty and air control.
