MWE Correspondent
Tanzania and Somalia have signed a major aviation agreement that will soon see direct commercial flights resume between Dar es Salaam and Mogadishu, a move expected to boost diplomatic, economic, and cultural exchange.
The announcement came during Somalia’s 65th Independence Day celebration held in Dar es Salaam, which coincided with the reopening of the Somali Embassy after renovation. The event was attended by diplomats, trade officials, and regional leaders focused on building East African cooperation.
Tanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Mr. Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, said the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two nations aims to revive their Bilateral Air Services Agreement—a framework that allows national airlines to operate direct routes between the two capitals.
“The return of direct flights will strengthen trade relations, promote tourism, ease cargo movement, and facilitate **people-to-people ties,” Kombo noted.
Currently, travelers between Dar es Salaam and Mogadishu must pass through cities like Nairobi or Addis Ababa—adding significant costs and delays to regional travel.
The resumption of flights, potentially operated by Air Tanzania and Somali carriers, is expected to launch within months, once regulatory and security protocols are finalized.
The ceremony also marked the strengthening of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Somalia’s Foreign Minister, Abdisalan Abdi Ali, said the direct flight deal was more than just a transportation solution—it represented a “symbol of regional solidarity and friendship.”
“This partnership will help our citizens connect, collaborate, and contribute to a more stable and united Horn of Africa,” he added.
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In addition to aviation, the two countries signed cooperation agreements in education, security, agriculture, fisheries, migration, and bilateral trade. Plans are underway to establish a Joint Ministerial Commission to monitor progress.
Strategic Regional Impact
Analysts say the deal is timely, especially as African nations push for deeper economic integration through air routes, infrastructure, and trade corridors. The renewed Dar-Mogadishu route is expected to feed into regional hubs like Zanzibar, Arusha, and eventually Hargeisa.
Direct air connectivity also strengthens the region’s role in the Blue Economy, supporting maritime trade, fisheries, and coastal tourism along the Western Indian Ocean.
“We want to create economic lifelines in the sky,” said a senior Tanzanian aviation official. “This is about faster travel, better logistics, and shared prosperity.”
The move has also been welcomed by diaspora communities and business chambers. The new flight route will benefit traders, students, NGOs, and families who travel frequently between the two nations.
Air Tanzania is expected to initiate the first nonstop flights, in partnership with Somalia’s Civil Aviation Authority. The airline, already expanding into Southern Africa and India, views the Horn of Africa as a natural growth area.
If successful, the deal could inspire similar agreements with other East African Community (EAC) nations and further streamline African air travel under the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) initiative.
