Saturday March 8, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) – Former Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdoon has applauded the Federal Government of Somalia for lifting the flight ban on Baardheere district in the Gedo region, which had been in place for several months due to ongoing tensions between the government and Jubbaland.
"I welcome the decision by the Federal Government to lift the flight ban on the city of Baardheere. It is a step in the right direction," Shirdoon said. He also urged the government to remove similar restrictions on other cities in the Jubbaland region, highlighting the serious challenges faced by civilians due to flight limitations.
The former prime minister emphasized that such travel bans were detrimental to public life, business, and education, particularly for those in need of urgent medical care, students travelling for education and entrepreneurs. He noted that these restrictions contradicted the Somali Constitution and negatively impacted the daily lives of the people in the region.
Mogadishu has recently imposed sanctions on flights to the region, suspended financial subsidies previously allocated to Jubbaland's budget, and halted several development projects. These actions have deepened the rift between the two sides.
The dispute dates back to last year, when Jubbaland President Ahmed Madobe withdrew from the National Consultative Council after rejecting a proposal to transition Somalia to a one-person, one-vote electoral system. Instead, Jubbaland held an indirect election that saw Madobe re-elected—an outcome the federal government refused to recognize.