By HAN News Desk
MOGADISHU — Somalia’s federal government says it is reviewing legal options to hold a private aircraft operator accountable for allegedly facilitating the unauthorized entry of Israel’s foreign minister into the northern city of Hargeisa.
Officials said the minister was denied travel on commercial flights due to the absence of a valid Somali visa and instead entered aboard a private jet operated by Fly Lili.
Under international aviation law, including the 1944 Chicago Convention, states retain full sovereignty over their airspace, requiring foreign aircraft to obtain prior authorization for overflight and landing.
Somali authorities argue that the aircraft’s landing without approval from the federal government constitutes a violation of Somalia’s airspace sovereignty.
Experts say the incident may also breach International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulations, which require airlines and operators to ensure passengers meet legal entry requirements.
Somalia’s aviation and immigration laws allow the government to impose sanctions, including flight bans and administrative penalties, on entities involved in facilitating unlawful entry.
Because Fly Lili is registered in Romania, Somali officials say the case could be referred to Romanian aviation authorities and the European Union for possible regulatory action.
Somalia’s government has said it intends to pursue diplomatic and legal measures to reinforce the principle that its airspace and borders cannot be bypassed.
