Jubaland strongly condemns the recent actions of the Somali Federal Government, which prevented a passenger plane operated by Mandeeq Air Company from completing its journey from Kismayo to Dhoobley. According to a statement released by the Jubaland Ministry of Information, the plane, registered as 5Y IFY, was forced to divert to Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, or to make an emergency landing at Wajer airport. This move has been deemed illegal by Jubaland, as it goes against international agreements and civil aviation regulations that prohibit the use of civilian services for political purposes. The Jubaland authority has expressed concern for the safety of passengers, the free movement of Somali citizens, and the overall confidence in the country’s civil aviation system. They have also accused the Somali Federal Government of using Somalia’s airspace as a political tool, rather than a national service that should serve all citizens equally. ย Jubalandย hasย called on international agencies, specifically the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), to closely monitor recurrent violationsย thatย undermineย civilian passenger flights and the free movement of the Somali people.ย Theย regionย hasย statedย that it will notย tolerateย anyย pressure onย the Somali peopleย toย makeย political decisionsย thatย threatenย theirย safety and basic rights.
