Favori LLC, a consortium of Turkish construction firms Çetin Group and Kozuva with USD3million capital, is set to assume the management of Mogadishu's Aden Adde International Airport with effect from September 15, the airport's current manager, Ali Mohamed Ibrahim, has said. The news comes after months of speculation about the future of a 10-year concession awarded to Dubai-based firm, SKA Air & Logistics, in 2010. The Turks are expected to effect a number of upgrades to the airport's environs including building a new runway and a terminal, with construction equipment having been ferried to the Somali capital via 747 freighter (see above video) over the last few weeks in preparation for the launch of works. In preparation for the transfer, Favori has also been registering local airport employees currently on the SKA payroll.
The Turkish firm was selected in January to run the capital's airport after the Somali federal government rescinded its 10-year agreement claiming "SKA did not meet expectations" with regards to "upgrading the airport with new equipment" in order to streamline operations.
However, the Somali press has pointed to the murkiness of the Turkish deal claiming it is fraught with irregularities, an accusation the Turkish government itself has denied.
SKA is expected to hold a press conference today (Monday, September 9) presenting their side of the story.