Hirshabelle State Bans Unauthorized Military Flights in Escalating Airspace Dispute

BELEDWEYNE, Somalia – The Hirshabelle regional state of Somalia has issued a decisive order prohibiting aircraft carrying armed troops or illicit weapons from landing at airports within its territory without its explicit permission, a move that directly challenges the authority of the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and signals a significant escalation in the country's internal power struggles.

On October 11, 2025, the Ministry of Transport and Aviation of Hirshabelle, under Minister Farah Mohamed Osman, released a formal circular declaring a ban on all "military aircraft or those carrying illicit weapons" attempting to enter the state's airspace and land at its airports. The directive mandates all aviation companies and airport authorities to deny entry to such flights, warning that any violation would be met with "legal action."

The ban is effective immediately across all airports located within the territory of the Hirshabelle State, a regional administration in central Somalia. This includes key airports like those in Beledweyne and Jowhar.

The order comes directly from the Hirshabelle regional government. The official justification, as stated in the circular, is to "protect public security and maintain the aviation system" within the state. The government framed the move as a necessary measure for internal stability and regulatory control.

This is not merely an administrative decision but a profound political statement. The ban comes amid:

• Intense Political Infighting: The region is experiencing a severe internal power struggle among political figures vying for control of the state's leadership and resources.
• Federal-State Tensions: This action mirrors similar disputes, such as the one in Jubaland, where regional states are pushing back against perceived overreach by the FGS in Mogadishu. By asserting control over its airspace, Hirshabelle is staking a claim to a key sovereign right.
• A Preemptive Strike: Analysts suggest the ban is a preemptive measure to prevent the Federal Government from using air power to influence the ongoing political turmoil within Hirshabelle, potentially by deploying troops to back one faction over another.

This directive places Hirshabelle at the forefront of a growing confrontation between Somalia's federal member states and the central government. It follows a pattern set by Jubaland's recent formal complaint to the UN, indicating a coordinated or parallel effort by regional states to resist Mogadishu's authority. The core conflict revolves around the interpretation of the federal constitution and the balance of power between the center and the states.

Control over airspace and military movement is a classic attribute of national sovereignty. By attempting to regulate it unilaterally, Hirshabelle is directly contesting a power traditionally held by the central government. This escalates the political crisis from a ground-based dispute to one involving national security and command-and-control capabilities.

The airspace ban by Hirshabelle is a bold and risky gambit that dramatically heightens tensions within Somalia's fragile federal structure. It transforms an internal political crisis into a constitutional showdown over aviation security and military deployment. This move not only threatens to further destabilize Hirshabelle but also sets a dangerous precedent that could encourage other states to assert similar controls, potentially fragmenting national command structures and undermining the collective fight against security threats like Al-Shabaab. The Federal Government's response will be critical in determining whether this dispute leads to a negotiated settlement or a further, more dangerous, escalation.