Somaliland Aviation authority mandates overflight authorization

Somaliland’s Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airports Development (MOCAAD) has issued a new aviation directive requiring all civil aircraft, including commercial and general aviation operations, to obtain prior authorization before entering or operating within Somaliland’s airspace.

The directive will take effect on November 10, 2025, according to a statement released on Sunday. The Ministry said the measure aims to “strengthen air traffic management and aeronautical information” in accordance with the Chicago Convention of 1944, asserting Somaliland’s complete “jurisdiction and exclusive sovereignty over its land, territorial waters, and airspace.”

Under the new regulation, all aircraft must obtain an Overflight Permit in advance. Any aircraft entering Somaliland airspace without authorization will be considered in violation of “Somaliland’s sovereignty” and subject to legal action “under national and international aviation law,” according to the communiqué.

“The Ministry reaffirms its commitment to maintaining safe, efficient, and cooperative international air navigation,” the statement said. “We appreciate the continued collaboration of international airlines, operators, and partner states in ensuring compliance with this directive.”

This directive follows a series of aviation-related policy announcements by MOCAAD in recent months. In late October, the Ministry acknowledged “ongoing challenges” faced by Somaliland citizens holding U.S., Canadian, and European passports when traveling, and warned that operators who fail to comply with Somaliland aviation and immigration regulations risk losing access to its airports and airspace.

On September 9, 2025, Somaliland introduced a Visa on Arrival policy for international visitors arriving at Egal International Airpor, removing the need for a prior electronic application. “We welcome our international guests with clarity, consistency, and hospitality,” said Fuad Ahmed Muh, Somaliland’s Minister of Civil Aviation and Airports Development.

These moves come amid heightened tensions between Somaliland and Somalia over aviation oversight and management. Somalia recently implemented a mandatory electronic visa requirement for all foreign passport holders, including Somali diaspora, effective September 1, 2025, as part of what the federal government described “a national digitization initiative.”

Airspace control has long been a contentious issue between the Federal Government of Somalia, its federal member states, and Somaliland. A recent security cooperation agreement between Puntland and Somaliland accused the Federal Government of politicizing aviation management. The latest statement from Somaliland’s Ministry of Civil Aviation adds to these ongoing disputes, which have intensified since Somalia officially regained full control of its airspace in 2017 after more than 25 years under United Nations oversight.