President of Somaliland Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi chairs the Somaliland Airspace Management High-Level Coordination Meeting in Hargeisa on November 8, 2025, alongside officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airports Development.
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The Republic of Somaliland has issued a firm statement asserting its sovereignty over its airspace, land, and territorial waters, while rejecting the recent eVisa policy announced by Somalia. In the official declaration, Somaliland reaffirmed that the management and authorization of its airspace rest solely with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airports of the Republic of Somaliland, in accordance with both national and international aviation laws.
The government emphasized that any use of Somaliland’s airspace must be approved by its aviation authorities, warning that unauthorized flights will face legal and regulatory action. This decision is set to take effect on November 10, 2025, marking a clear step in Somaliland’s efforts to reinforce control and safety over its aviation domain.
In its statement, Somaliland disapproved of Somalia’s newly introduced eVisa system, describing it as unlawful and irrelevant to its territory. The government clarified that travelers to Somaliland cannot enter using Somalia’s eVisa and reaffirmed that Somaliland maintains its own independent immigration and travel system. According to Somaliland’s policy, foreign visitors can obtain a visa on arrival at Egal International Airport in Hargeisa or at Berbera International Airport, reflecting the country’s commitment to an open and welcoming travel policy.
The statement also addressed the growing tension surrounding the management of Somali and Somaliland airspace, warning of the potential security risks posed by Somalia’s politicization of air traffic control. Somaliland accused Mogadishu of turning civil aviation administration into a political weapon aimed at undermining Somaliland’s sovereignty and endangering regional air safety.
The government of Somaliland appealed to international aviation authorities and global organizations—including ICAO, IATA, and the United Nations—to recognize the risks arising from Somalia’s actions. It called for transparency, neutrality, and adherence to international law in the administration of airspace over Somaliland and Somalia. The appeal urged the international community to correct inaccuracies in IATA’s Timatic system, which mistakenly lists Somaliland’s airports as part of Somalia, and to ensure fair representation of Somaliland’s aviation operations.
Furthermore, Somaliland called for the establishment of a transparent mechanism to manage the airspace revenues and operations between Somaliland and Somalia, emphasizing that these responsibilities have been wrongfully handed over to the Federal Government of Somalia. It also requested that ICAO conduct an independent assessment of Somaliland’s airspace management and airports, with the goal of creating a direct operational framework for civilian flights to and from Somaliland.
The statement concluded with a strong reaffirmation of Somaliland’s independence, asserting its right to administer its territory, sea, and airspace without interference. It underlined that Somalia’s recent political maneuvers have not only violated international aviation norms but have also jeopardized the safety of commercial and civilian aircraft flying over the region.
Through this declaration, Somaliland reinforced its position as a self-governing and stable nation determined to protect its sovereignty, maintain the safety of its airspace, and ensure lawful international cooperation in line with global aviation standards.
