Monday September 2, 2024
Mogadishu (HOL) — Former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo has condemned the federal government's reported decision to hand over the management of Somalia's airspace to a United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based company, NAV-PASS.
In a press release issued Sunday, Farmaajo argued that outsourcing the control of Somalia's airspace to a foreign entity undermines the progress made by local aviation experts and jeopardizes national interests.
"Handing over the management of our airspace to a foreign government is not only a setback to our sovereignty but also a betrayal of the selfless work done by Somali professionals," he said.
Farmaajo, who was President when Somalia regained control of its airspace after more than two decades, stressed that the country's aviation infrastructure and expertise are sufficient to manage airspace operations without external interference. He called on the government to reconsider the agreement, emphasizing the importance of maintaining national control over critical assets.In response, the Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) denied the allegations, asserting that Somalia's airspace is a national symbol and has seen considerable progress since being retaken by the Somali government.
"The Somali Civil Aviation Authority confirms to the Somali people that the country's air can't be possible to operate in other hands, and the government knows no plan to make this possible," the SCAA posted on Facebook on Sunday night.
The federal government reportedly agreed with NAV-PASS, a company from the UAE, to manage Somalia's airspace and collect revenues from its use.
The decision comes after Somalia reclaimed control of its airspace in 2017, ending more than 20 years of UN oversight from neighboring Kenya following the outbreak of civil war in 1991.