Somalia’s aviation authority warned it might suspend all Ethiopian Airlines flights due to a dispute involving a breakaway region.
The issue escalated after Addis Ababa signed an agreement with Somaliland to lease coastal land, granting Ethiopia access to the sea.
Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has proposed that Ethiopia be the first to officially recognize its sovereignty.
Ethiopia has yet to confirm this recognition, adding to the tensions.
Ethiopian Airlines operates flights to Hargeisa, Mogadishu, and other Somali cities.
The Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) criticized the airline for removing references to Somali destinations and warned of a potential flight suspension.
The SCAA stated that if Ethiopian Airlines doesn’t resolve the issues by August 23, it would suspend all flights to Somalia.
The SCAA also mentioned ongoing complaints from Somali travelers about the airline.
The SCAA also addressed Fly Dubai, requiring it to correct how it represents Somali destinations.
Failure to comply by August 24 could lead to the revocation of Fly Dubai’s operating permit in Somalia.
