Mogadishu Airport workers strike over alleged replacement by foreign staff

Workers at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport have gone on strike, bringing all daily operations to a halt, employees said on Monday. Several staff members told local media that they were protesting against Favori LLC, the Turkish company managing the airport, accusing it of planning to replace local employees with foreign workers.

Favori LLC, a Turkish aviation services company under the Kozuva Group, was founded in 2012 and entered Somalia’s aviation sector the following year after signing a 20-year concession agreement with the Federal Government of Somalia to manage and operate Aden Adde International Airport. Under the deal, Favori is responsible for the airport’s operations, maintenance, security, and commercial services.

The agreement has been controversial since its inception. Critics, both local and international, have questioned the terms of the concession and the transparency of the process through which it was awarded.

In its 2016 report, the United Nations Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea raised concerns over the airport management contract between the Somali government and Favori LLC. The Group described the deal as “technically poor deal for the FGS,” concluding that it allowed the private company to benefit at the expense of Somalia’s public interests and revenue potential.

Further scrutiny came from Somali labor organizations. A 2021 report by the Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU) accused Favori LLC of widespread labor rights violations and exploitative practices, alleging that the company disregarded Somali labor laws and international standards. The report claimed workers were subjected to unsafe conditions, excessive working hours without overtime pay, denial of leave, and a lack of basic provisions such as food and transportation.

According to FESTU, Favori LLC also engaged in “wage theft,” particularly during the COVID-19 lockdown, when workers were reportedly suspended without pay for several months, an action that violated Somali labor law and International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions. The company was further accused of discrimination, denying promotions, and retaliating against employees who demanded better working conditions. “We have no promotion, as we are treated as cheap labour that does not deserve any recognition,” noted one employee.

The report alleged that Favori LLC fired union activists, intimidated workers, and used misinformation to suppress organizing efforts. FESTU also claimed collusion between the company and Somali government officials, including allegations of bribery and political protection shielding the firm from accountability.

A 2021 Special Audit Report by Somalia’s Auditor General also highlighted serious deficiencies in oversight and compliance within the operations of Favori LLC and Decale Hotel, both under the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation (MOTCA). The audit found that MOTCA failed to enforce proper monitoring of Favori’s adherence to the concession agreement, leading to multiple violations.

Among the findings, Favori LLC paid only 13% of its gross revenue to the Federal Government of Somalia, instead of the agreed 25%. The company also operated Golden Horn Security K9 Explosive Detector Dogs without a valid contract, deducting $197,500 monthly from the government’s revenue share.

The audit additionally revealed the absence of a legally binding concession agreement — only a temporary arrangement has been in place since January 2020. The Decale Hotel management, co-owned with Favori LLC, breached the revenue-sharing formula by deducting $638,888 from the government’s share to cover election-related expenses, instead of seeking reimbursement through proper channels. The hotel also failed to provide full documentation for funds collected during the audit period, preventing auditors from verifying financial integrity.

These findings collectively point to systemic governance and contractual lapses that have placed the company under increasing scrutiny. Today’s labor protest adds to the growing list of controversies surrounding Favori LLC’s management of Mogadishu’s international airport. The company has yet to comment on today’s labor strikes.