PRESS RELEASE
The Jubaland State Government expresses its profound disappointment and condemnation regarding the irresponsible decision made today, which placed the advance delegation and the President of Jubaland’s security detail in direct danger.
This occurred after the Federal Government of Somalia denied their aircraft entry into the airspace of Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu.
At the onset of the journey, the flight which departed from Sayid Mohamed Abdille Hassan International Airport in Kismaayo had been officially communicated to the Civil Aviation Authority, the conference organizing committee, and the Federal Government’s security agencies. However, as the aircraft approached its landing in Mogadishu, a sudden order was issued for it to return to Kismaayo, without any verification of whether the plane had sufficient fuel for the return trip. This action reflects a significant lack of responsibility and a hostile decision that jeopardized the lives of the advance delegation.
Furthermore, two civilian aircraft carrying passengers were also turned away from Mogadishu’s airspace today, further illustrating the risks and chaos resulting from these measures.
It is evident that the Federal Government, by dragging its feet on the Mogadishu Consultative Meeting, is committed to using every means possible to cancel the summit. This behavior demonstrates a lack of good faith and a failure of commitment to finding a solution to the country’s complex situation.
We wish to clarify that no joint committee agreement exists regarding the number of security personnel or other guests accompanying the President’s delegation to Mogadishu. Any reports claiming that such an agreement was reached are entirely false and baseless.
Jubaland State remains committed to pursuing a lasting solution to the current issues and ensuring the success of the scheduled Consultative Meeting. However, these recent actions create dangerous security conditions and raise serious questions about the Federal Government’s reliability and sense of responsibility.
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