In a move which could transform Somalia’s position in Africa’s aviation sector, the foundation stone has been laid for a new airport in the country’s capital of Mogadishu.
According to regionalgateway.net, the end of June saw the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Dr Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, lay the foundation stone for the new Mogadishu Airport.
The flagship airport project was first announced in 2024 and is intended to position the Somali capital as a regional transport hub across East Africa. The new airport signals a major turning point for Somalia, which is located in the Horn of Africa, bordering Ethiopia, Djbouti and Kenya. The site for the new airport is in Warsheekh in the Middle Shabelle region with the project described as one of the most transformative infrastructure projects in Somalia’s post-civil war history.
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The Horn Daily newspaper reported that President Hassan Sheikh described the new airport as a “gateway to Somalia’s future”. He also noted that the development of the new infrastructure, which is thought to carry a price tag of around USD800 million is “not just about travel – it’s about economic development, job creation and strengthening national capacity.” The new airport is expected to have two parallel runways, a fuel farm, air traffic control towers, customs and cargo infrastructure and modern terminals.
How Somalia is competing with its neighbours in Africa’s airport race
Somalia has joined the likes of its neighbouring countries as they battle to develop their airport infrastructure in line with the forecasted double-digit passenger growth over the next two decades. In Kenya, expansion plans are underway for Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to enable it to handle up to 35 million passengers a year. Meanwhile, in Ehtiopia, a new mega-airport is being constructed outside the capital Addis Ababa to handle ovr 60 million passengers per year. In Rwanda Qatar Airways has taken a majority stake in the new Bugesera International Airport, which is due to open in 2028. Somalia’s new airport will relieve the burden on the country’s Aden Adde International Airport and meet the growing needs of Mogadishu.
Somalia’s flight path to the future
In a post on X, the Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) described the new airport as a “visionary leap, marking an aviation and air transport revolution transforming Somali skies into hubs of connectivity, igniting economic momentum and opening gateways for our youth.” The SCAA also said the groundbreaking ceremony was a “momentous milestone in our national resurgence-building more than an airport: forging a legacy of modern infrastructure and global integration.”
Route development plans
At the beginning of July, Somalia signed an agreement with the United Republic of Tanzania to enhance bilateral cooperation in the field of civil aviation. The resolution signed by the two authorities paves the way for the launch of direct flights between Mogadishu and Dar es Salam in the coming weeks. The flights will be operated by Air Tanzania and will boost trade and mobility between the two nations.
