MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s Immigration and Citizenship Agency said Thursday it is investigating reports that a senior Yemeni separatist leader entered the country without authorization, raising concerns over possible violations of immigration and airspace regulations.
The agency said it is coordinating with national authorities to determine whether laws, airport procedures or airspace protocols were breached during the reported movements of Aidarous al-Zubaidi, head of Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council.
According to the Saudi-led coalition backing Yemen’s internationally recognized government, al-Zubaidi fled southern Yemen late Wednesday, traveling through Somaliland before arriving in the United Arab Emirates.
Coalition spokesman Brig. Gen. Turki al-Maliki said al-Zubaidi and several associates departed the port city of Aden by ship after midnight, disabling the vessel’s automatic identification system to avoid detection.
The delegation reportedly arrived around midday at the port of Berbera in Somaliland, where al-Zubaidi contacted a UAE military officer and was transferred to a Russian-made Ilyushin IL-76 aircraft.
The plane later landed at Mogadishu’s international airport before continuing toward the Arabian Gulf. Its transponder was switched off over the Gulf of Oman and reactivated shortly before landing in Abu Dhabi, the coalition said.
Somalia said any confirmed unauthorized use of its airspace would represent a serious violation of national sovereignty and immigration laws, including the facilitation of fugitives.
The federal government reiterated its support for Saudi-led dialogue in Riyadh as the appropriate political framework for resolving Yemen’s conflict, warning that attempts to evade the process could undermine diplomatic efforts.
The coalition said it is continuing to track other individuals believed to have fled Aden with al-Zubaidi, including former Aden governor Ahmed Hamed Lamlas and local security chief Mohsen al-Wali.
Somalia reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law and international norms, saying appropriate measures would be taken once the investigation is concluded.
