Somalia’s government denied entry to a flight carrying Ethiopian officials to the breakaway region of Somaliland, ratcheting up tension between the neighboring countries over a proposed port deal.
The Somali authorities turned back Ethiopian Airlines flight ET8372 “after it became clear that the aircraft did not have any permission to use Somali air space,” the Somalia Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement on Wednesday.
The flight’s passengers included “VIP Ethiopian delegates” en route to the Somaliland capital of Hargeisa, CAA Director-General Ahmed Moalim said by phone, without identifying them.
A Somali government official told local media that the airline initially refused to comply with the order before the Somali Aviation Authority threatened to block all incoming flights from Ethiopia.
Last night, Ethiopian troops reportedly arrived in Hargeisa by land to guard the delegation after the flight was denied.
Tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia have escalated recently following an agreement that allowed Ethiopia usage of a military base in Somaliland along the Red Sea coast. Somalia criticized the deal as undermining its sovereignty and unity.
Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mesfin Tasew later confirmed the incident