Conflicting Aviation Rules Create Challenges for Airlines in Somalia
Airlines operating in and out of Somalia may face a complex situation this week as they navigate conflicting aviation rules issued by Mogadishu and the breakaway region of Somaliland. The latest developments come after Somaliland took steps to reassert control over its local airspace, creating a tense standoff with the federal government of Somalia.
The move was announced by Somaliland President Abdirahman Irro, who criticized the federal government’s recent directive requiring airlines to ensure that all passengers entering any part of the country have valid electronic travel authorisations (e-TA) or other recognized travel documents before boarding. This e-TA requirement is not entirely new; since September, Somalia has required travelers to obtain electronic visas before boarding, replacing the previous paper-based system. However, Mogadishu has recently expanded these rules, introducing broader “general requirements” governing the entry, transit, and departure of passengers and crew.
This expansion has been interpreted by Somaliland as an attempt to undermine its long-standing, though informal, control over entry fees for travelers to the northern region. Despite Somalia’s claims of sovereignty, Hargeisa has continued to operate independently, collecting its own visa revenues and managing local airports.
On Sunday, the Immigration and Border Control Agency of Somaliland issued a memo warning airlines against refusing passengers intending to travel to Hargeisa, threatening penalties including the loss of landing rights. The statement emphasized that “visas or travel authorisations issued by Somalia are not valid for entry into the Republic of Somaliland.” It further stated that such documents will not be recognized at any Somaliland border point, and individuals presenting them will be refused entry and may face legal procedures in line with national immigration regulations.
Somaliland often refers to itself as a republic, although it has never been recognized by any sovereign state. Nevertheless, it operates with considerable autonomy and rejects inclusion in the Federal Government of Somalia, which governs six federal member states.
Since 2023, airlines and international firms operating in Somaliland have increasingly found themselves caught between Hargeisa and Mogadishu, as the federal government seeks to reassert its sovereignty. Mogadishu previously instructed airlines and money transfer firms not to list Somaliland as a separate country or nationality and demanded that all aircraft landing anywhere in Somalia obtain clearance from Mogadishu.
While some federal states, such as Jubaland and Puntland, ignored that order, enforcement has been lax until now. The latest directive signals a firmer push by Mogadishu to consolidate control over the region.
The Somali government’s latest policy states: “All visas are now processed online. All arriving passengers must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (e-TA). The e-TA can be applied for through the Electronic Travel Authorisation System, accessible at https://etas.gov.so.” Travellers are required to present both their passport and a copy of the e-TA at all ports of entry in Somalia.
In contrast, Somaliland insists that travelers to Hargeisa must apply for visas on arrival or through its liaison missions abroad, including in Kenya, Ethiopia, the UK, Turkey, and Djibouti. This directly contradicts Mogadishu’s efforts to digitize migration services and increase federal revenue collection.
The e-TA system in Somalia is managed by the Immigration and Citizenship Agency. It is part of a series of public finance reforms supported by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, which have urged Mogadishu to digitize government services to seal revenue leakages from manual processes such as business licenses, residency permits, and visas.
Although Somalia has not disclosed specific visa revenue figures, the central bank reported domestic revenues of $268 million in 2024. Both the World Bank and IMF estimate that digitization could significantly boost these collections.
However, Somaliland sees the new system as a direct threat to its own income streams. On November 8, President Irro chaired a high-level meeting on aviation management and declared an intention to assert “full and independent control over its borders, ports, and airports.” A communiqué issued on Saturday stated that all civil and commercial flights transiting or operating within Somaliland’s airspace must obtain clearance from Hargeisa.
“Any flight entering or exiting Somaliland’s airspace without authorization will be subject to regulatory enforcement consistent with national and international aviation law,” it read.
In previous instances where overlapping directives were issued, some airlines opted to avoid Somaliland’s airspace altogether to reduce operational risk. Others, particularly those landing in both regions, have advised passengers to secure travel documents from both authorities.
Somaliland has sought independence from Somalia since 1993 without success. Many of its senior officials, including President Irro, a former Somali diplomat, still travel abroad using Somali passports.