MOGADISHU — Contemporary particulars have emerged about an plane that reportedly flew Yemen’s southern separatist chief Aidarus al-Zubaydi out of Mogadishu whereas he was evading authorities in Yemen, a transfer that has fuelled tensions between Somalia and the United Arab Emirates, sources stated.
Al-Zubaydi, head of Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council (STC), was flown from Aden Adde Worldwide Airport aboard a Boeing 737-400, in line with officers conversant in the matter.
Sources stated the operation was facilitated by One Full Service, an organization reportedly owned by a person recognized as Yoonis, which is alleged to deal with cargo operations for the UAE at Mogadishu airport and different places in Somalia.
In response to airport and safety sources, UAE-linked cargo plane — together with Airbus A300F, IL-76D and Boeing 737-400 freighters — are sometimes unloaded by specialised employees linked to the corporate, with different airport staff barred from the cargo space on working days.
The identical sources stated Yoonis lately organized the departure of Al-Zubaydi from Mogadishu, an motion that has contributed to a pointy diplomatic dispute between the Somali authorities and the UAE.
They additional alleged that, on some events, cargo personally dealt with by Yoonis has entered Somalia below diplomatic seals marked as belonging to the UAE embassy.
Airport sources additionally recognized a person named Karaama as overseeing employees vetting and passport controls, saying he works intently with Yoonis in airport operations.
Neither the UAE nor the STC has publicly commented on the allegations. Somali authorities have but to challenge an official assertion detailing the incident, however the episode comes amid strained relations between Mogadishu and Abu Dhabi over safety and sovereignty issues.
