Mogadishu has prohibited United Arab Emirates military and cargo planes from entering Somali airspace following accusations that Abu Dhabi assisted the departure of Yemeni separatist leader Aidarous Al-Zoubaidi through Somali territory. Somali media reported on Thursday that Mogadishu officially notified Abu Dhabi of the prohibition, while civilian flights from the UAE remain unaffected. The move comes after reports indicated that Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council chief, Aidarous Al-Zoubaidi, traveled to the UAE via Somaliland, with some accounts suggesting he was airlifted from Mogadishu airport after he entered the country via Berbera port. Somali authorities have vowed to take necessary actions if an ongoing investigation confirms the reports, though specific consequences were not detailed. The Somali immigration agency stated that it has initiated an immediate inquiry to verify the reports and assess whether any Somali laws, procedures, or authorization protocols were breached. The agency emphasized that such actions, if confirmed, would represent a serious violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and immigration rules, and that enabling fugitives or undertaking unilateral operations on Somali soil without proper authorization is unacceptable. Tensions between Somalia and the UAE have already reached a low point, especially after Israel’s recognition of Somaliland last month. Somali officials suspect Abu Dhabi influenced Israel’s decision and may be encouraging other countries to follow suit.
