Somalia's immigration agency has launched an investigation after the Saudi-led coalition accused the UAE of moving southern separatist leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi through Mogadishu airport.
The coalition says al-Zubaidi traveled by boat to Somaliland, then flew to Mogadishu, with the aircraft later tracked to a military airfield in Abu Dhabi.
Somalia is probing whether its airport was used illegally and has opened inquiries with airport and security authorities.
Somalia's Immigration and Citizenship Agency said on Thursday it has opened an investigation after the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen accused the United Arab Emirates of moving a southern separatist leader through Mogadishu's airport.
The coalition alleged that Aidarous al-Zubaidi, head of a UAE-backed southern separatist group, first left Yemen by boat for Somaliland and then boarded a flight to Mogadishu. That aircraft was subsequently tracked to a military airport in Abu Dhabi, the coalition said.
Somalia said it is probing whether Mogadishu airport facilities were used illegally in the transfer and has initiated inquiries with airport authorities and security services. There was no immediate comment from the UAE or from representatives of al-Zubaidi.
Reporting by Nairobi newsroom; Editing by Alex Richardson
Help us improve.
