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Somali President flies on domestic carrier for first time in 35 years

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Friday September 12, 2025

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
this week flew aboard a Somali-owned and registered aircraft from Addis Ababa
to Mogadishu, marking the first time in 35 years that a Somali head of state
has traveled on a domestic carrier for an official trip.

The President’s plane, operated by Premier Airlines and
bearing registration number 60-PAA, was filmed taxiing and parking at Aden Adde
International Airport, where it was received with a welcoming ceremony.

Officials say the use of a Somali carrier for presidential
travel symbolizes the country’s growing confidence in its own capabilities,
progress toward full sovereignty, and the revival of Somalia’s aviation sector.

On social media, many Somalis praised the move as a powerful
message of resilience and national pride. Some said it could attract more
investment in the aviation industry, while others described the President’s
choice of a local carrier as a show of support for Somali enterprises.

In July, the Somali government announced the purchase of two
Airbus A320 aircraft to revive Somali Airlines, more than three decades after
the national carrier ceased operations following the state collapse in 1991.
Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Mohamed Farah Nuuh said the planes would
begin flying within two months under the Somali Airlines name.

Beyond expanding connectivity, the revival of Somali
Airlines carries symbolic weight, reflecting a desire to reclaim a fragment of
national identity lost during the country’s turbulent past.

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