Somalia bans drone flights at Mogadishu airport over fear of Al-Shabaab

MOGADISHU, Somalia – The Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) has banned drone flights within a 9-kilometer radius of Aden Adde International Airport (Mogadishu Airport) over security concerns, amid frequent sporadic attacks by Al-Shabaab.

The move aims to protect the busy airport from possible attacks by Al-Shabaab that could target flights at the country’s heavily fortified facilities. Mogadishu Airport is the largest in the Horn of Africa country.

Some of the areas affected by this ban include Hodan, Hamar Weyne, Waberi and parts of Madina and Boondheere which fall into this restricted zone, affecting densely populated districts and critical infrastructure like Mogadishu University and Banadir Hospital.

The directive has already been implemented and will remain in effect until December, when the aviation team will conduct assessments for additional guidance, an official Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) states.

“UAS operations are prohibited within a 5 NM radius of HCMM ARP unless authorized by the Somali Civil Aviation Authority,” the advisory said.

The aviation team stressed the need to comply with the directive, noting that posting regulations would result in legal consequences. The ban aims to prevent potential threats posed by unmanned aerial systems (UAS), which could disrupt air traffic or be exploited for malicious purposes, the team said.

“Compliance with these regulations is mandatory and any violations will be subject to legal action,” a SCAA spokesperson said.

In addition to commercial aircraft, Aden Adde International Airport is frequently used by humanitarian teams and sometimes by the military. Al-Shabaab has repeatedly attempted to launch attacks on critical government facilities over the past decade.

GAROWE ONLINE