Somalia takes control of its own airspace after 26 years

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia has officially reclaimed its own airspace control for the first time since 1991 after opening a well-equipped aviation office in Mogadishu on Thursday, Garowe Online reports.

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has cut the ribbon on the new fully equipped flight information center to control Somali airspace in Mogadishu's Aden Abdulle International Airport, which is largely protected by African Union forces.

The launching event was attended by government Ministers, lawmakers, Galmudug state President Ahmed Dualle Geelle, foreign diplomats, security chiefs and officials International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The Federal Minister for Transportation and Aviation Mohamed Abdullahi Salad Omaar said the move came after ICAO, an NGO body under the United Nations handed over the airspace control to Somalia.

The minister emphasized the need for foreign workers and the ICAO organization involvement to continue with the work in the aviation control office until they secure local educated staff.

The United Nations Development Program, UNDP, and ICAO founded a civil aviation caretaker authority for Somalia, CACAS following the collapse of the government in 1991.

GAROWE ONLINE