Why was the Garowe flight forced to return to Mogadishu?

On Saturday, Said Abdullahi Deni, President of Puntland, invited Members of Parliament from both houses of the Federal Parliament of Somalia who represent Puntland to what the regional administration described as a “consultative meeting.” The meeting was scheduled to take place on Monday in Garowe.

However, on Sunday, a plane carrying the federal MPs to Garowe for the anticipated meeting was reportedly forced to return to Mogadishu mid-flight. The lawmakers alleged that the Federal Government ordered the aircraft to turn back. As a result, the MPs were stranded for several hours at Aden Adde International Airport. The incident has sparked widespread outrage in Puntland and among opposition groups.

In a press briefing, President Deni criticized the actions of Somalia’s federal government. He stated that the measures “undermine the rule of law in the country and constitute a constitutional violation that harms the dignity and honor of Somali citizens.” Deni warned that, if such actions continue, they could erode public trust in Somalia’s system of governance. He further stressed that Puntland would pursue legal action against those responsible for the incident, in which the aircraft was allegedly denied entry into Garowe airspace and forced to turn back. According to Deni, the Puntland administration intends to address the matter strictly through legal channels.

In addition, the Puntland government revoked the operating license of Daallo Airlines, accusing the airline of “twice endangering Puntland citizens and officials” and “violating civil aviation regulations” while transporting MPs and other passengers.

In a subsequent statement, the Puntland government condemned what it described as an “irresponsible and unlawful act” by Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. “This is an unlawful, authoritarian act and an affront to the dignity of Somalia,” the statement read, alleging violations of parliamentary immunity and citizens’ fundamental rights. Puntland further accused President Mohamud, whose term is nearing its end, of “desperately clinging to fragile statehood” and vowed to hold him accountable under international law, Puntland’s constitution, and Somalia’s Provisional Federal Constitution.

Puntland also called on the international community to intervene in what it described as a worsening political crisis “orchestrated by federal leaders.” The administration specifically urged the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to investigate the matter, warning that “the safety of Somali airspace and civilian passengers could be at risk.”

Opposition figures, including former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, also condemned the action. Khaire stated: “I condemn the reprehensible action taken today by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s government in blocking the travel of members of the Federal Parliament of Somalia who were on their way to the regions of Puntland from which they were elected.”

The blockage of the plane is closely linked to the ongoing constitutional crisis that has gripped Somalia for the past two years. At the heart of the dispute is the collapse of dialogue between the federal government and opposition groups over a controversial constitutional amendment. The proposed amendment has been a source of prolonged political tension and continues to divide the federal government, key political stakeholders and regional administrations, particularly Puntland and Jubbaland.

This week, Jubbaland recalled its representatives for consultations in response to the federal government’s actions. These moves reflect growing concern among regional governments over what they view as the unilateral handling of the amendment process.

Compounding the situation, reports indicate that the Federal Parliament is attempting to finalize the controversial amendment by Wednesday. Parliamentary leadership has faced accusations from opposition figures of blurring the separation between the legislative and executive branches of government. There is widespread concern that Parliament may struggle to secure the quorum necessary to approve the amendment, potentially triggering a further political impasse.

With less than three months remaining in the current administration’s mandate, many observers believe that these actions risk exacerbating the constitutional crisis at an especially sensitive moment. The recent diversion of the plane is widely seen as a direct consequence of escalating political crisis, and it also reflects the broader breakdown in trust between the federal government and key regional actors.

Puntland and Jubbaland, alongside major opposition figures, including former presidents, former prime ministers, and a significant number of presidential hopefuls, are insisting that the government cannot proceed with constitutional amendments at this stage. They argue that the administration should adhere strictly to the provisional constitution until a broader political consensus is reached.

Meanwhile, the federal government maintains that finalizing the constitution is a national priority and has signaled its intention to move forward regardless of opposition objections.

This standoff has not only stalled progress on constitutional reform but has also derailed election-related negotiations, which had already reached an impasse. At present, there is no clear indication that the parties are willing to re-engage in meaningful dialogue. What is increasingly evident, however, is that the constitutional crisis is deepening, and recent moves by the federal government appear to be further intensifying political divisions rather than resolving them.