BOSASO, Somalia – In a striking turn of events, the Somali government has put the kibosh on all flights to Bosaso Airport, bringing operations — including those by Ethiopian Airlines — to a grinding halt for today. This drastic action arises amid escalating beefs over who runs the airport and security concerns flagged by the Northeastern State Security Forces (PSF).
The PSF had previously put airlines, Ethiopian Airlines included, on notice to steer clear of Bosaso Airport until things got back to how they were before. This directive plays into an ongoing tussle that’s stirring up fears over the well-being of the airport, a linchpin in regional transport.
Yet, despite these solemn advisories, carriers like Ethiopian Airlines and Daallo Airlines chose to keep flying, hinting they might see the threat level differently. But today, the Somali government’s flight nixing signals either a beefed-up security scare or a slick move in the broader political dance within Northeastern State.
The flight ban isn’t pegged to any specific incident or threat, but it follows a period fraught with tension. The PSF has been vociferous, lambasting the airport handlers for allegedly blocking access to injured soldiers and insisting the airport should serve all of Northeastern State’s folk, not just the military or select groups.
What’s at stake here is more than just flights — this could ripple out to shake the region’s stability and economy, as Bosaso Airport is a critical node connecting Northeastern State to the wider world. The global community, especially stakeholders in the Horn of Africa, will watch closely to see how this saga unfolds, considering air travel’s crucial role in commerce and humanitarian activities in Somalia.
Ethiopian Airlines, a titan in African skies with a vast network reaching far and wide, hasn’t broken its silence on the cancellations yet. However, such interruptions could tarnish their reliability rep in the region.
This scenario shines a spotlight on Somalia’s tangled web of security and governance issues, where local beefs can morph into global headaches affecting international air travel. The waiting game begins, as no timeline has been floated for when flights might take off again, leaving travelers and businesses dangling in uncertainty.
AXADLETM
