Cargo plane crash could be proxy tiff, Somalia must investigate it thoroughly

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EDITORIAL | Six people died on Monday when an aircraft carrying humanitarian medical cargo from Mogadishu crashed after reportedly being hit by a mysterious object in Bardale, some 300km northwest of Mogadishu.

Somalia has had a civilian accident at least once every year in President Farmaajo’s tenure. But this was the first major fatal civilian aircraft accident in Somalia since February 2016, reflecting the relative safety of Somalia’s skies despite the security challenges. But Somali authorities must not sit on their hands and wish the incident away.

For one, the accident involved a cargo plane with six people on board. Their families will demand answers which authorities must be ready to give.

It was operated by African Express. The Embraer-120, a twin-engine aircraft was a Kenyan registered plane 5Y-AXO. It was on assignment to deliver needed humanitarian aid. Like most aid deliveries in Somalia, air transport was the safest, fastest. Somalia, at the moment, either don’t have a good road network for distribution of aid or is littered with roadblocks mounted by al-Shabaab.

Where an accident like this one on Monday happens, an immediate investigation is needed to calm the nerves of humanitarian workers. Let us find out whether indeed the plane fell from the sky because of some missile from the ground or whether a technical fault caused it.

Already, the Kenyan government asked its local registered aircraft and humanitarian deliverers to be extra cautious while flying over or into Somalia. That risks slowing down the delivery of crucial medicines, especially at this time of Covid-19 and floods in Somalia.

We appreciate the pledge by President Mohamed Farmaajo that there will be a full investigation, which could possibly involve joint teams with Kenya. This is important, especially since Somalia started running its airspace fully from last year in August.

Previously, air navigation services were controlled in Nairobi through the local offices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) has been responsible since then and should be at the forefront of providing answers.

This will be important to eliminate rumours already in the air. Somali politician Abdurahman Adan Ibbi, who has shares in the airline had claimed in an interview this week the plane was hit as it approached the airstrip.

That could point to Al-Shabaab or Ethiopian forces who routinely use the airstrip for their operations within the African Union Mission in Somalia. Addis Ababa already said it will leave it to competent authorities in Somalia to investigate. But there is one thing to have competent authority and another thing to have that authority to its work.

Amisom said it welcomed the decision to allow investigation. Its troop contributors include Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Uganda.

There are advantages in this common acceptance for an investigation. First, if Ethiopian forces erroneously fired a missile to bring down a plane, it could offer them a chance to do damage control, by remedying the mistake.

Second, an investigation could boost confidence among Amisom troop contributors. There is an inherent risk to cooperation if members suspect one another of committing crimes. What is more, a joint investigation could actually allow Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia; who have lately had lukewarm relations between them; to restart their rapport.

Nobody needs neighbours on talking terms more than Somalia. Of the three, it is the country most challenged by security. It is the most donor-dependent, has the most refugees staying in the other’s territory, and has required neighbours’ support for every one of its political programmes.

Granted, not every of that ‘support’ has been accepted by everyone. But Somalia needs them peaceful than if they are planning some fight.

Thirdly, a swift investigation could actually bring Somalia to the table of men and clarify that human life was not being used for political reasons. The country expects to conduct elections later in the year and Ethiopian forces had been previously accused of taking sides with the government.

Those troops denied that charge last year. Now they have another chance to come clean. A clean slate will leave al-Shabaab as the common enemy for all the three countries while removing suspicions.

Finally, a successful investigation usually adds to air safety. It happens in two ways: Authorities may realise a faulty piece of instruction or communication may have led to the accident, which they can then change as advised by ICAO.

They may also unearth fault lines in the plane itself. Like a plane that has operated between Kenya and Somalia for years, it becomes important if officials can for sure declare mechanical damage did not bring it down.

Somalia hasn’t had a good image in almost every facet of society. But a successful investigation could just turn heads.

GAROWE ONLINE

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