Somalia issues Air-Space certificate after 30 years

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The federal government of Somalia has issued an Air-Space certificate in the latest reforms aimed at streamlining the aviation industry, which has been struggling for almost four decades later, following a civil war.

For the better part of the 90s and the new millennium, Somalia sir space has not been monitored by the aviation agencies, due to the lack of proper infrastructure and coordination by the fragile UN-backed Somalia administration.

Duran Farah, the minister for transport and aviation hailed the government for making the tremendous milestone in securing the airspace certificate for the first time after three decades, a move which comes amid ongoing elections in Somalia.

He said the move was the beginning of the efforts to restructure and improve the aviation industry, adding that the economy of the country will rapidly expand besides making the aviation industry competitive in the Horn of Africa nation.

"Air Operating certificate for the Somali Air-Space has been issued for the first time in 30 years," said the minister, who is also a close ally of outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, under administration, Somalia has struggled economically.

"This is the beginning of our efforts to make the country's civil aviation system competitive with international ones, and this will also contribute to the economic growth of our country," Duran Farah added in a tweet.

In Somalia, air transport is almost the most effective given the state of poor roads after years of civil war and the Al-Shabaab menace. Most roads are impassable forcing locals to prefer air transport for traveling across the country.

Aden Adde International Airport is used by many aircraft and has been in existence for several decades. Also, there are many airports across the country which are used by commercial and private aircraft.

GAROWE ONLINE