Somaliland Pushes to Take Control of Its Airspace and Border Entry System

Hargeisa Seeks Greater Control Over Aviation and e-Visa as It Expands Its Drive to Operate as an Independent State

Hargeisa (WDN) — Somaliland says it is pursuing efforts to take full control of its airspace and end Somalia’s electronic visa system for travelers arriving in Hargeisa, in another move reflecting its ambition to exercise the functions of an independent state.

Somaliland’s Minister of the Presidency, Khadar Hussein Abdi, said the administration was pursuing the issues through diplomatic channels and other initiatives being handled discreetly. He said Aviation and Airports Minister Fuad Ahmed Nur was leading efforts over airspace management and what Somaliland considers obstacles to controlling flights serving the territory.

“Minister Fuad is handling the aviation and airspace issues wisely and discreetly, and we hope he will achieve success soon,” Khadar told members of the Somaliland diaspora in the United States. The minister added, Fuad remains in the United States and is continuing diplomatic efforts on the issue.

A Challenge to Somalia’s Federal Authority

Control of airspace and immigration procedures are among the practical functions associated with state authority. Somaliland’s push to control both therefore goes beyond an administrative dispute and reflects its broader effort to operate independently of Mogadishu.

The administration has also challenged Somalia’s e-Visa system, arguing that travellers heading to Somaliland should not be required to obtain entry authorization from Somalia.

Khadar linked the campaign to Somaliland’s wider diplomatic strategy, saying some government initiatives are deliberately kept confidential until they produce results. He cited Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as an example, suggesting that the outcome reflected diplomatic efforts that had not previously been publicly disclosed.

The minister did not provide details of the other diplomatic initiatives he said were underway.

Airspace and Visa Dispute

The dispute over airspace and entry procedures highlights the continuing institutional separation between Hargeisa and Mogadishu. While Somalia regards Somaliland as part of its territory, Somaliland maintains that it restored its independence from Somalia in 1991 and has pursued international recognition as a sovereign state.

Its latest efforts to control aviation and immigration arrangements are therefore another attempt to exercise authority over functions normally administered by a national government. For Hargeisa, the objective is clear: to strengthen its ability to manage the territory’s airspace, borders and international access independently of Mogadishu.

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