Somalia: Civil Aviation Director suspended amid controversy

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia's aviation and air transport minister, Mohamed Abdullahi Salad, has on Tuesday suspended country’s Aviation managing Director, Yusuf Abdi Abdulle, Garowe Online reports.

The minister has announced the suspension through a statement dated 9th July 2018, saying the decision was made after having seen the need for transformation and speed up the agency’s services.

No reason was given for suspension of the director of Somali Civil Aviation and Meteorology Authority (SCAMA), but it comes hours after Somali PM Hassan Ali Khaire fired his minister of Religious Affairs.

SCAMA is the national civil aviation authority body based at the Aden Adde International in Mogadishu which is currently preparing to control the Horn of Africa nation’s airspace after decades of conflict.

Abdulle who is said to be a close ally to Somali President, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has been replaced with his deputy Ahmed Moalim Hassan an acting basis, according to the statement seen by Garowe Online.

Sources revealed to Garowe Online that Hassan Moalim Hussein the immediate former Religious Affairs Minister was removed from office for allegedly reaching a secret deal with private airline companies providing Haj services to pilgrims.

The sacked minister, who is also a member of the Lower House Chamber of Somali Federal Parliament, was sent home while he is in office for less than two months. PM Khaire did not give reasons for the drastic action. 

It’s not yet clear if Abdulle’s case is related to the alleged corruption scandal. However, both officials have not yet commented on their firing and suspension.

Last December, the Somali government declared that it has officially regained control and management of its airspace after 27 years being run by the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regional office in Nairobi. 

GAROWE ONLINE