By Mohamed Dhugad
17 June 2025/Mogadishu, Somalia
Contact: mdhugad@gmail.com
At the gateway to Somalia’s Aden Adde International Airport—where returning citizens and international visitors ought to be welcomed with dignity—travelers instead encounter an extortionate and degrading ordeal administered by a private monopoly: Sahal Terminal. This company, operating with seemingly unchecked authority, charges $5 USD plus $0.50 VAT for a shuttle ride that covers barely one kilometer. The journey, from the airport gate to the KM4 checkpoint, takes only a few minutes on foot, yet passengers are prohibited from walking or using alternative transportation. The monopoly is absolute.
Globally, this fare is among the most exorbitant transportation rates per kilometer. In Dubai, a metro ticket costs approximately $1.36 and covers up to 15 kilometers in clean, air-conditioned trains. In Nairobi, Uber services span up to 10 kilometers for just $5. In Addis Ababa, a modern light rail charges less than 30 cents for several kilometers. Even in New York City, a $2.90 subway fare grants access across the entire underground system. In sharp contrast, Mogadishu’s Sahal Terminal demands $5.50 for a single dusty, unpaved kilometer—offering none of the dignity, service, or infrastructure found in other cities.
What makes the situation even more egregious is the condition in which travelers are dropped off. The KM4 checkpoint—the designated drop-off point—is a muddy quagmire during the rainy season and swallowed by choking dust when dry. There are no paved roads, no sanitation, and no drainage system. Passengers, including the elderly, children, and those burdened with luggage, are forced to wade through filth, garbage, and open sewage. The company has made no effort to pave a few meters of the road or install a shelter for those disembarking in harsh weather.
Despite collecting thousands of dollars daily, Sahal Terminal has shown no visible investment in corporate social responsibility or passenger welfare. Not even basic interlock paving has been installed at the terminal gates. More alarming is the absence of receipts for passengers—despite the inclusion of VAT—raising serious concerns about tax transparency and regulatory oversight.
This issue goes beyond overpricing or poor service; it is an entrenched problem of exploitation, civic neglect, and national embarrassment. Sahal Terminal wields monopoly power while offering zero accountability, and our government appears either complicit or powerless to intervene.
Foreign visitors arriving in Mogadishu are confronted immediately with chaos and squalor. Diaspora Somalis returning with hope and longing instead find extortion and disrespect. The poor, who must travel with limited means, suffer most—dragging their belongings and loved ones through unhygienic, undignified surroundings. The monopoly over this essential transportation link is not merely a logistical inconvenience; it stands as a symbol of the deeper decay caused by unchecked corporate power and government inaction.
The time has come to demand change. The government must immediately launch an independent review of Sahal Terminal’s pricing, services, and operational contract. Competitive access must be restored so travelers can choose among shuttle, taxi, or simply walking. The infrastructure at KM4 must be cleaned, paved, and maintained with the diligence befitting a national gateway. If Sahal wants to operate as a business, it must behave like one—respecting customers, contributing to public welfare, and complying with the law.
We are a nation striving to rebuild. Allowing monopolies to profit while citizens wade through filth at the gates of their own airport is not progress—it is a disgrace.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Somali Stream.