MOGADISHU, Feb 14 – Former Somali president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and the head of the National Intelligence and Security Agency, Mahad Mohamed Salad, have reached an agreement to resolve recent tensions over security procedures at Aden Adde International Airport, members of the opposition-aligned Future Council told local media.
The dispute centred on restrictions affecting the movement of former leaders and opposition figures at the capital’s airport. Under the agreement, former presidents will be allowed to enter the airport compound with a limited number of bodyguards. Opposition leaders will also be required to notify security agencies in advance of their arrival to facilitate screening procedures.
The two sides further agreed that, after 5:00 pm, access to and from the airport will be restricted to the Marina Gate in a bid to tighten control over entry and exit points.
Meanwhile, sources said the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia had lodged a complaint stressing that it was not feasible for large numbers of armed personnel to enter the airport area, citing security concerns and the presence of senior officials.
Leaders of the semi-autonomous states of Puntland and Jubbaland are currently staying at a hotel inside the heavily fortified airport zone, accompanied by their own security details, according to the sources. The concentration of armed guards in the area has raised concerns over weapons management and overall airport security.
The agreement comes amid broader political tensions in Mogadishu linked to opposition activities and heightened security measures around key installations in the capital.
