Somalia has launched an investigation into the alleged unauthorized use of its airspace by Aidarous Al-Zubaidi, the head of Yemen's separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC), the Somali immigration agency said Thursday.
In a statement, the Immigration and Citizenship Agency (ICA) said that it was working with other national authorities to verify whether Somalia’s airspace and airports were used to facilitate the movement of a “fugitive political figure” in breach of Somali law or authorization procedures.
If confirmed, the agency said, the actions would represent a serious breach of Somalia’s sovereignty and immigration laws, stressing that the facilitation of fugitives or any unilateral operations on its territory without authorisation was “unacceptable.”
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has alleged the United Arab Emirates smuggled Al-Zubaidi out of Yemen, saying he travelled to the self-declared breakaway region Somaliland by boat and later boarded a flight via Mogadishu to Abu Dhabi.
The ICA said Mogadishu has consistently supported Saudi Arabia’s call for dialogue in Riyadh as the “appropriate political process” for resolving the situation in Yemen.
Breach of agreements
Any effort by Al-Zubaidi to “evade this process, including through alleged external support, would directly contradict ongoing diplomatic efforts,” it added.
It warned that any confirmed breaches would represent a breach of bilateral agreements and a violation of international law.
“Appropriate measures will be taken in accordance with the findings of the investigation to ensure full accountability for any confirmed violations,” the agency said.
The Saudi-led coalition earlier said that Al-Zubaidi failed to comply with instructions to travel to Riyadh for talks, instead mobilising forces toward Al-Dhale in southwestern Yemen.
Coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki later said Al-Zubaidi fled Aden by sea before leaving the region by air, a claim denied by the STC, which insists its leader continues to operate from the city.
The STC has not issued a detailed response, reiterating only that its leader remains active and rejecting the accusations.
Last week, Saudi Arabia accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of pushing STC forces to carry out military operations along the kingdom’s southern border in Hadhramaut and Mahra. Abu Dhabi denied the accusation.
The two provinces, which account for nearly half of Yemen’s territory, were seized by the STC fighters last month, but government forces managed to recapture them earlier this week.
The STC has long pushed for the secession of southern Yemen, arguing that successive governments have marginalised the region politically and economically. Yemeni authorities reject the claim and insist on preserving the country’s territorial unity.
North and South Yemen were unified on May 22, 1990, forming the Republic of Yemen.
