Somalia bans drone flights within Mogadishu airport over Al-Shabaab fear

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Somalia Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) has banned drone flights within 9 kilometers of the Aden Adde International Airport (Mogadishu Airport) over safety concerns in the middle of frequent sporadic attacks by the Al-Shabaab.

The move is geared towards protecting the busy airport from possible Al-Shabaab attacks which could target flights in the highly fortified facility within the country. Mogadishu Airport is the biggest in the Horn of Africa nation.

Some of the areas affected by this ban include Hodan, Hamar Weyne, Waberi, and parts of Madina and Boondheere which fall within this restricted zone, affecting densely populated districts and critical infrastructure like Mogadishu University and Banadir Hospital.

The directive has already been implemented and will remain in force until December when the aviation team will make assessments for further advice, an official notice to airmen read (NOTAM).

"UAS operations are prohibited within a 5 NM radius of HCMM ARP unless authorized by the Somali Civil Aviation Authority," the notice stated.

The aviation team emphasized the need to adhere to the directive, noting that those flaunting regulations would result in legal consequences. The ban aims to prevent potential threats posed by unmanned aerial systems (UAS), which could disrupt air traffic or be exploited for malicious activities, the team said.

"Compliance with these regulations is mandatory, and any violations will be met with legal action," said an SCAA spokesperson.

Besides the commercial planes, Aden Adde International Airport is frequently used by humanitarian teams and at times, the military. Al-Shabaab has repeatedly tried to wage attacks on the critical government facility over the last decade.

GAROWE ONLINE