The unrecognised state of the Republic of Somaliland has announced that it does not accept visas issued by Somalia and will issue its own visas on arrival at Hargeisa and Berbera airports, subject to immigration screening and payment of the required fees.
This follows an escalation between the internationally recognised government of Somalia and Somaliland, which is de facto self-governing but has no international recognition. In early November, Somalia told carriers they should require Somalian visas for passengers flying to Hargeisa.
The Horn Diplomat reported a series of international flight diversions after aircraft reportedly failed to secure entry clearance to Somaliland’s airspace under the new enforcement measures. Several flights were reportedly rerouted to Djibouti and Ethiopia.
Somaliland officials told foreign diplomats that the diversions showed its airspace directive was now being actively enforced. Civil aviation minister Fuad Ahmed Nuh said around 90 aircraft use Somaliland’s skies daily and that airlines have been informed they must obtain prior authorisation. "Forty per cent have already complied. Those that do not comply are being instructed to divert," he said.
Presidency minister Khadar Hussein Abdi said Somaliland was acting to protect what it considers its sovereignty over its borders, immigration systems, and airspace. An aviation committee told diplomats that Somalia would bear responsibility for any consequences arising from what Somaliland views as interference in its aviation and border management.
In a November 9 statement, Somaliland's border control commissioner, Mohamed Hussein Farah, said that Somali visas are no longer recognised at any Somaliland border point.
"Individuals presenting these documents will be refused entry and may be subject to lawful procedures in line with national immigration procedures," he warned.
Travellers were also advised to apply for an entry permit visa at Somaliland representative offices in Kenya, Ethiopia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Taiwan, Türkiye, and Djibouti. The directive took effect on November 9 and will remain in force until further notice.
The new policy was acknowledged through travel alerts issued by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the United Kingdom Foreign Office, Ethiopian Airlines, and flydubai, among others, the news publication Horn Diplomat reported.
In 2024, the Somali government considered taking legal action against the Somaliland administration over diversions of flights at the time.
ch-aviation has asked the Somalia Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) to comment.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, but remains unrecognised internationally, with Somalia insisting the territory is part of its sovereign state.
