After recent bilateral trade visits by delegations from Yemen and Ethiopia, both Yemenia (IY) and Ethiopian Airlines (ET) have expressed their desire to start regular 
flights to the Somali capital, Mogadishu. Currently, Yemenia serves all major cities in the Horn of Africa - Djibouti, Asmara, Addis Ababa, Khartoum and Cairo - excepting Somalia.
A recent visit to Mogadishu by a Yemeni trade delegation, which included the chairman of Yemeni national airline, Yemenia (IY), discussed the possibility of establishing a direct airlink between the Yemeni capital Sana'a and Mogadishu.
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| Yemenia delegation in Mogadishu (raadraacnews) |
Following on from a state visit to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, last year in November by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud, during which Ethiopia pledged to help Somalia get back on its feet, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) has said it is considering resuming flights to Mogadishu, some 20 years since they were suspended. Currently ET only serves Berbera in the semi-autonomous region of Somaliland.
During his visit, President Mohamoud toured Ethiopian Airlines' facilities and hangars at Bole International Airport.
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| President Mohamoud tours Ethiopian Airlines' hangars (hiraan) |
Relations between the two countries were often strained owing to the 1977 Ogaden War which broke out after the Siad Barre government in Somalia sought to incorporate Ethiopia's Ogaden region into a Pan-Somali Greater Somalia. Somalia eventually lost the war.
[Editor's note: This article is a little thin on the fact side owing to a lack of a Somali - English translator. If you are bilingual and are willing to cooperate with us from time to time with Somali-based articles, please get in touch with me at ivan(at)theafricanaviationtribune.com ]