Kenya and Ethiopia flout Somalia’s air blockade on Jubaland 

Somalia

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Ethiopia and Kenya have brazenly breached the air blockade imposed by Somalia’s federal government on Jubaland, a measure intended to pressure regional President Ahmed Madobe to relinquish power following his controversial re-election last year, Caasimada Online news website reported on Monday. 

Late in 2024, Mogadishu instituted a blanket ban on all aircraft flying to towns under the control of President Ahmed Madobe’s administration in Jubaland, including the port city of Kismayo. This move followed the decisive defeat of Somali federal troops by Jubaland forces in the town of Raskamboni, located in the Lower Juba region. The rout was further compounded by casualties among Somali troops, some of whom were killed while others were detained in the town of Dolow, situated in the Gedo region along the Ethiopian border. 

In defiance of the blockade, Ethiopia violated the embargo by dispatching an aircraft on Friday to transport regional ministers to Addis Ababa, where they were believed to be engaging in talks with Ethiopian government officials. Additionally, another Ethiopian plane flew from Addis Ababa to Dolow, carrying elders, further underscoring Ethiopia’s disregard for Somalia’s air restrictions. 

A day later, Kenya followed suit, sending a helicopter to fly Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe to Nairobi. This marked his first trip abroad since the imposition of the air embargo and his contentious re-election late last year, which the Somali federal government decried as corrupt and unconstitutional. Mogadishu has since vowed to spare no effort in removing Madobe from office. 

In response to Kenya’s violation, Somalia lodged a formal protest, summoning the Kenyan ambassador to seek an explanation for the breach of the embargo. The move has sparked concerns that it could unravel two years of improved relations between the two countries, which followed years of strained diplomatic ties. 

Mogadishu, which recently announced an agreement with Ethiopia to restore full diplomatic relations following President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s visit to Addis Ababa earlier this month, has yet to address Ethiopia’s violations of the air embargo. 

Nonetheless, Somali officials have firmly asserted that both Kenya and Ethiopia have egregiously violated the nation’s sovereignty by sending aircraft to a region under air blockade, without the authorization of Somali aviation authorities. 

Rashid Abdi, a political and security analyst with Sahan Research, has raised pertinent questions regarding Somalia’s claim to sovereignty. “How can a state claim real and meaningful sovereignty when its writ and legitimacy does not extend beyond the capital, when it is at war with its own federal member states, cannot secure its borders, airspace and waters?” he queried. 

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