Mogadishu airport bars several federal lawmakers from international travel

Sunday March 22, 2026

Mogadishu (AX) — A group of Somali federal lawmakers say they were blocked from boarding outbound flights at Aden Adde International Airport during the current parliamentary recess, an episode that has reignited questions about political tensions in the capital and the freedom of movement of elected officials.

Most of the MPs affected were elected from Southwest State. They told reporters they were stopped as they prepared to travel abroad for routine trips during the legislative break. The lawmakers said airport authorities offered no formal explanation at the time, but they believe the measure was tied to their regional affiliation.

The development has sparked fresh debate over whether officials are facing informal travel restrictions and what that signals about the broader political climate in Mogadishu.

Dr. Koofi Aden of the Somali Future Council called on President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to halt what he described as “state checkpoints” that restrict both citizens and public officials.

“The president once campaigned for the removal of checkpoints in Mogadishu,” Dr. Koofi said, pointing to earlier reform pledges. “Today, we are seeing a return to practices that damage the credibility and reputation of the capital.”

Several lawmakers framed the airport incident as part of a wider pattern of political pressure, citing earlier complaints about travel limitations involving officials from Jubbaland and Puntland State.

Federal security agencies have not issued an official statement explaining why the MPs’ travel was halted.

The airport standoff comes amid strained relations between the federal government and Southwest State. Southwest recently cut ties with Mogadishu, accusing federal leaders of interfering in its political and security affairs and weakening Somalia’s federal system.

On Saturday, Southwest President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen accused the federal government of mounting a “blatant invasion” of areas under his administration. He alleged that Mogadishu is deploying special forces and using aircraft to transport troops and militias into Southwest regions—claims the federal government has not publicly addressed.

The confrontation is playing out alongside broader disputes over constitutional amendments and the regional electoral framework. In recent weeks, tensions between Mogadishu and several federal member states have sharpened, fueling concern about political fragmentation as key electoral timelines draw closer.