From dried meat to tourism flows—Berbera Airport is about to connect Somaliland with Addis, the Gulf, and beyond.
President Irro confirms: “We are open for business.”
The President of the Republic of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro), conducted an official inspection of Berbera International Airport, accompanied by a high-level delegation during his ongoing visit to the Sahil Region.
During the inspection, President Irro received a detailed briefing from the Minister of Civil Aviation and Airport Development, Fuad Ahmed Nuuh, who laid out a forward-looking vision for transforming Berbera into a full-fledged international airport hub. According to the minister, the facility is being primed to handle global air traffic and to serve as a central node for cargo, commercial, and potentially tourist flights—especially in the Horn of Africa corridor.
This is not mere rhetoric. Under Minister Fuad’s short but active tenure, Berbera Airport has already begun servicing aircraft that previously relied on competing regional hubs. The operational shift suggests Berbera is not only ready but already competing in a highly strategic and crowded airspace.
More than just passenger mobility, Berbera is being positioned as a logistical gateway for exports. Plans are underway to facilitate outbound cargo flights carrying fish, vegetables, and dried meat—products that could place Somaliland into new supply chains across Africa and the Middle East. Parallel to this, discussions are in progress for initiating cargo and tourism flights between Berbera and Addis Ababa, potentially opening a vital trade and tourism corridor with Ethiopia.
President Irro used the occasion to reinforce his administration’s “unity and action” policy, stating unequivocally that Berbera International Airport is now open for business—commercially and diplomatically. His comments underscored a broader goal of not just aviation development, but international engagement, economic expansion, and regional leadership.
In acknowledging the civil aviation minister’s rapid progress in cultivating external partnerships, President Irro signaled the strategic role Berbera is poised to play in Somaliland’s international relations. Given Somaliland’s unresolved recognition status, such developments are more than just infrastructure milestones—they are instruments of soft power and legitimacy.
The upgrade and promotion of Berbera International Airport are not taking place in a vacuum. As global powers increase their presence in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, Somaliland’s positioning becomes increasingly pivotal. With investment flowing from the UAE and quiet attention from the United States, Turkey, and others, Berbera is not just Somaliland’s airport—it’s becoming everyone’s gateway.
