MOGADISHU—In a dramatic escalation of security and diplomatic tensions, the United Arab Emirates has formally submitted an official request to the Federal Government of Somalia, seeking the reversal of the ban imposed on the use of Somali airspace by UAE military and cargo aircraft.
As previously reported, on January 8 Somalia enforced a sweeping prohibition on all UAE-owned military and cargo flights from using its national airspace.
The decision sent shockwaves through regional diplomatic and security circles, marking a significant rupture in relations between Mogadishu and Abu Dhabi.
The airspace ban came just hours after reports emerged that Aidarous Al-Zubaidi, leader of Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council (STC), had transited through Somali airspace.
The incident raised serious concerns within Somali leadership over sovereignty, airspace control, and national security.
Although the Federal Government issued a press statement condemning Al-Zubaidi’s transit and announced that “additional measures” would be taken, Somali Stream has confirmed that Somali authorities had already reached a preliminary decision to suspend all UAE military and cargo aviation access to the country.
Upon receiving the official notice, Abu Dhabi urgently requested a grace period to continue limited operations. However, the Federal Government of Somalia stood firm, refusing to dilute its decision despite diplomatic pressure.
Following intense discussions, Somalia granted the UAE authorization only for final evacuation flights, allowing the removal of personnel and military equipment already inside the country. Crucially, Mogadishu has not publicly clarified whether overall security cooperation between the two nations has been fully terminated.
Sources confirmed that six evacuation flights carrying personnel and equipment were cleared to depart from Bosaso, while four additional flights were authorized to extract remaining military assets from Mogadishu.
The first of these flights have already departed Bosaso, transporting cargo and military hardware.
Somali Stream has independently verified that the Somali government’s decision is now fully enforced, following firm insistence from senior federal leadership.
Diplomatic relations between Somalia and the UAE are now widely described as being at their most fragile point in years.
Somalia has become the second country, after Yemen, from which the UAE is withdrawing military assets — a development that signals a major shift in regional security dynamics.
The message from Mogadishu is unmistakable: Somali airspace is a sovereign domain, not an open corridor for unilateral military or political transit.
The move underscores Somalia’s intent to reassert control over its security architecture and redefine its diplomatic posture in an increasingly volatile region.