By Said Noor | November 2025
Tags: Somalia, Somaliland, Puntland, ICAO, Airspace Dispute, E-Visa, Horn of Africa, Aviation Safety, Federalism, Geopolitics
Introduction
The airspace and e-visa dispute among Somalia, Somaliland, and Puntland has rapidly intensified, exposing the fragile balance between sovereignty, security, and governance in the Horn of Africa.
What began as a technical disagreement over flight regulation and immigration management has evolved into a high-stakes political standoff with implications for aviation safety, regional stability, and federal cohesion.
The Emerging Somalia–Somaliland–Puntland Airspace and E-Visa Dispute
In late October and early November 2025, the long-running question of who controls Somali skies re-emerged.
On October 31, 2025, the Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) in Mogadishu issued a directive requiring all airlines operating anywhere within Somali territory—including Hargeisa—to ensure passengers obtain a Somali e-Visa before boarding. The policy was justified as a national security and immigration control measure, asserting the federal government’s exclusive jurisdiction.
Two days later, Somaliland’s Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airports Development (MOCAAD) issued a counter-directive mandating Overflight and Landing Permits for any aircraft entering what it considers Somaliland’s airspace. Citing the Chicago Convention (1944), Hargeisa framed this as an exercise of its sovereign right to regulate aviation, effectively rejecting Mogadishu’s claim.
At the same time, the Puntland State of Somalia rejected the e-visa initiative outright. Officials in Garowe declared that the federal government has “no administrative control” over airports in Garowe, Bosaso, and Qardho. They denounced the e-visa policy as an “illegal checkpoint in the sky,” insisting on maintaining visa-on-arrival procedures.
Together, these moves expose a deep fracture within Somalia’s federal structure—one where airspace, borders, and migration have become symbols of competing legitimacy.
Airspace Control Conflict
Somaliland’s order—effective November 10, 2025—requires all aircraft to seek prior overflight clearance. Though officially described as a safety measure, the rule functions as a political assertion of independence.
Mogadishu, the internationally recognized government, condemned it as illegal and warned that dual control centers could threaten aviation safety.
Pilots flying through the Mogadishu Flight Information Region (FIR) have already reported conflicting radio instructions near Hargeisa, prompting ICAO safety advisories urging compliance only with Mogadishu Control. Such confusion underscores the risk of mid-air incidents in one of Africa’s busiest transit corridors linking the Middle East and East Africa.
E-Visa System Dispute
The federal government’s electronic visa platform aimed to digitize entry processes and strengthen border management. Instead, it has magnified internal divisions:
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Somaliland rejects the e-visa outright, insisting that visa issuance is a matter of independent sovereignty.
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Puntland calls the system unconstitutional and continues to issue visas on arrival.
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Mogadishu maintains that only the federal system has legal standing under international law.
Airlines now face contradictory orders from rival authorities, leading to delays, denied boardings, and operational uncertainty—an unsustainable situation for both domestic and international carriers.
Regional and International Implications
The dispute extends beyond Somali politics. Ethiopia’s quiet support for Somaliland and Puntland’s autonomous positions—through investment deals and diplomatic backing—has inflamed tensions with Mogadishu.
Neighboring countries such as Djibouti and Kenya, which rely on shared flight corridors, fear that conflicting control zones could disrupt regional air navigation.
The episode risks transforming Somalia’s airspace into a contested regional arena, with potential spillover effects on trade, tourism, and humanitarian logistics.
How ICAO and Neighboring States Could Mediate
A sustainable solution requires technical mediation led by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and regional diplomacy by neighboring states.
ICAO’s Role
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Neutral Technical Framework: Provide a safety-focused platform detached from political recognition.
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Joint Management Model: Revive the Istanbul II Communiqué structure—shared oversight under ICAO supervision.
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Formal Complaint Process: Utilize Article 84 of the Chicago Convention to investigate unauthorized transmissions or unsafe operations.
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Binding Arbitration: Allow ICAO’s Council to issue recommendations; appeals may go to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) if all sides agree.
Neighboring States’ Mediation
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Diplomatic Facilitation: Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Kenya can host dialogue platforms and shuttle diplomacy.
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Trilateral Summits: Convene the aviation authorities of the federal government, Somaliland, and Puntland, along with their foreign-affairs ministries, to harmonize protocols.
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Incentive Measures: Align regional air-traffic or visa agreements with ICAO standards to encourage compliance.
Recommended Steps Forward
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Reinstate a Joint Airspace Committee with equal representation from Mogadishu, Hargeisa, and Garowe.
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Create a Unified but Decentralized E-Visa System that integrates regional databases while respecting local autonomy.
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Seek ICAO Arbitration if bilateral talks fail, ensuring adherence to international norms.
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Engage the UN and African Union as neutral guarantors, pairing diplomatic mediation with technical oversight.
Conclusion
The current airspace and e-visa crisis reflects Somalia’s unresolved federal tensions—a contest between central authority and regional autonomy projected into the skies.
Without coordinated management, the dispute threatens aviation safety, economic connectivity, and international credibility.
A balanced framework—anchored in ICAO’s technical neutrality and regional cooperation—offers the best route toward restoring confidence, protecting passengers, and safeguarding the sovereignty and stability of the Horn of Africa’s airspace.
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