HARGEISA, (HAN) — A prominent Somaliland politician has questioned the continued existence of Somaliland’s Ministry of Civil Aviation, arguing that the region no longer controls its own airspace and that Somalia’s newly enforced eVisa policy highlights the extent of Mogadishu’s authority over Somaliland’s air operations.
In a statement, the official said he saw “no reason why Somaliland should still maintain a Ministry of Civil Aviation when airspace management has already been placed under the failed administration in Wardhiigley, Mogadishu.”
He criticized Somalia’s eVisa system, saying it has caused travel difficulties for Somaliland citizens and revealed the strained relationship between Hargeisa and key international partners.
“The decision by Ethiopian Airlines and FlyDubai to comply with Somalia’s eVisa policy imposed on Somaliland citizens clearly shows how far Somaliland’s ties with the two closest countries have deteriorated,” he said.
The politician also argued that Somaliland should not have established a Ministry of Civil Aviation in the first place, noting that “in most countries, aviation is regulated by a Civil Aviation Authority, not a separate ministry.”
He recalled that during President Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo’s administration, the United Kingdom had provided a foreign aviation expert to assist Somaliland in drafting civil aviation legislation. However, the British government later withdrew its support after the proposed law was not submitted to the House of Representatives within a year.
“Since Somalia took full control of Somaliland’s airspace during Mahmoud Hashi’s tenure as aviation minister, and now that Mogadishu has imposed its eVisa system — which President Cirro and Minister Fu’ad failed to challenge during their recent visit to the UAE — I see no justification for Somaliland to maintain its own Ministry of Civil Aviation,” he said.
The controversy comes as frustration grows among Somaliland travelers over the eVisa policy introduced by Somalia’s immigration department, which requires all foreign and Somaliland citizens to obtain visas online before traveling.
Somaliland, a self-declared republic that broke away from Somalia in 1991, operates as a de facto independent state but remains internationally unrecognized. Disputes over airspace control and international representation have long strained relations between Hargeisa and Mogadishu.
