Somalia and IATA Reach Agreement to Strengthen Aviation Safety

Mogadishu, 19 October 2026 — The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation of the Federal Government of Somalia have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation in aviation safety.

This agreement was signed on 18 October 2026, and is part of IATA's efforts under its Focus Africa program, which aims to enhance aviation services in the African continent, particularly in safety and quality of airline operations.

The agreement stipulates that the Somali Civil Aviation Authority will accept IATA's Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) procedures and the safety audit of ground services at airports (ISAGO), which will be used to ensure compliance with national regulations.

This step is expected to strengthen the aviation safety oversight system in Somalia, aligning it with international standards and best practices used by airlines.

Kamil Alawadhi, the IATA Vice President for the Middle East and Africa, stated that international safety standards are the foundation for safe and efficient flight operations.

He noted that the agreement provides an opportunity for both parties to collaboratively work towards the continuous improvement of aviation safety, disseminating best practices and strengthening the safety culture across the aviation sector in Somalia and Africa.

The agreement was signed in the city of Mogadishu by Kamil Alawadhi, the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation of Somalia, Mohamed Farah Nuh, and the Director General of the Somali Civil Aviation Authority, Ahmed Macallim Hassan.

} This agreement demonstrates efforts to strengthen cooperation between Somalia and international aviation organizations, in order to enhance the safety of passengers, aircraft, and aviation infrastructure services.