Somalia has grounded civilian planes at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde airport ahead of Djibouti President Ismael Omar Gelle’s arrival today.
According to a statement by the Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA), civilian flight operations at Aden Adde airport have been suspended. The reason cited was “maintenance.” Emergency and technical flights are exempt from the travel ban.
Somali officials closed key roads in Mogadishu in preparation for the visit of Djibouti’s President and his team. Security has also significantly been tightened at numerous vital checkpoints.
Several locals have expressed dissatisfaction with the road closures, saying that it forces them to walk or take exceedingly long detours.
The federal government asked residents to be patient with security forces.
Reports say Ismaïl Omar Gelle is expected to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony for joint Somali-Djibouti development projects.
Today’s visit is Gelle’s second to Mogadishu since Hassan Sheikh was elected president in May.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was also one of the high-profile guests who attended a wedding ceremony for Gelle’s youngest daughter – who wed Sadak Omar Mohamed, Mogadishu’s ex-police chief – earlier this month.
Omar Gelle’s arrival comes as regional and federal leaders meet in Mogadishu as part of the National Consultative Council. The leaders are discussing the federalization of the judiciary, the division of power at the federal and state levels and the ongoing offensive against Al-Shabaab.
