Somalia partners with U.S., Interpol to share aviation security data

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Tuesday June 3, 2025

FILE - A Somali immigration officer verifies a traveler’s passport at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport. The newly launched aviation data-sharing system with the U.S. and Interpol builds on such border control measures, allowing real-time exchange of passenger information to detect security threats. Credit: Daud Aweis/Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia has launched a real-time aviation data-sharing system in partnership with the United States and Interpol, aiming to bolster border security and improve screening at ports of entry as part of broader institutional reforms.

The system, unveiled Monday by the Immigration and Citizenship Agency (ICA), allows Somali authorities to share passenger data and travel information with global security partners. Officials say the platform will help identify individuals linked to terrorism, human trafficking, and other transnational crimes.

“The platform is a major step toward aligning Somalia’s border management systems with international aviation safety standards,” the ICA said in a statement.

The initiative integrates Somalia into Interpol’s I-24/7 global communications system, a secure network used by 195 member states to exchange criminal intelligence. It also complies with United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2178 and 2396, which mandate enhanced screening of travellers to curb the movement of foreign terrorist fighters.

Security analysts welcomed the move, describing it as a vital measure in a country still facing threats from Al-Shabaab and organized criminal networks operating across borders. The militant group was responsible for the 2016 bombing of Daallo Airlines Flight 159, when a suicide bomber smuggled an explosive device aboard a commercial aircraft shortly after takeoff from Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport. The blast tore a hole in the fuselage, killing the attacker and forcing an emergency landing, though the rest of the passengers and crew survived. Investigators later determined the device had been planted with the help of airport staff, exposing serious gaps in aviation security and prompting calls for sweeping reform.

In response, Somalia has invested in modernizing Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, including the construction of a new terminal and the establishment of an aviation training academy. The new data-sharing system complements these infrastructure improvements and supports efforts to reclaim full control of Somali airspace.

However, challenges remain. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration continues to prohibit civil aviation operations below 26,000 feet in Somali airspace, citing risks from man-portable air-defence systems possibly in the hands of Al-Shabaab. In January 2024, militants attacked a United Nations helicopter in central Somalia, killing one and kidnapping several others, highlighting the ongoing risks to aviation operations in the region.

The data-sharing platform is part of Somalia’s efforts to rebuild its government institutions and regain full control over national security functions following decades of conflict and fragmentation. While the U.S. remains a key partner in Somalia’s security sector, recent funding cuts have strained some programs. Countries like Turkey have stepped in to fill the gap, supporting airport upgrades and training Somali security forces.

Officials hope the move could improve Somalia’s standing in the international security community and strengthen its case for lifting restrictions on its airspace.

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