(05-09-23) MOGADISHU — Cargo flights departing from Adan Adde International Airport in Mogadishu have been suspended for the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday after airlines and cargo companies rejected a new tax imposed by the government.
The dispute centres around a $1-per-kilo tax that the government recently implemented. One official from a cargo company, speaking on the condition of anonymity, stated that the tax was “not feasible” for operators and has been summarily rejected.
Since Saturday, the airport has not allowed cargo items to be transported, leading to a significant disruption in the distribution of aid and other goods across various regions of Somalia.
Many of the affected flights were destined for international aid agencies, including the United Nations, as well as other governmental and non-governmental organisations. The interruption has therefore raised concerns about the timely delivery of essential supplies to areas in need.
The government has indicated that a large revenue stream could be generated through this tax but has yet to clarify how the collected funds would be allocated. As of now, no compromise or solution has been presented to resolve the stalemate.
The deadlock has raised questions about the government’s revenue collection strategies and their impact on crucial aid distribution mechanisms in a country that heavily relies on external support for basic services and disaster relief.
Halqabsi News
