Mogadishu (Somalia Today) — Somalia has opened a formal investigation into intelligence reports that a United Arab Emirates (UAE) military jet entered its airspace without authorisation to transport a Yemeni separatist leader.
The inquiry follows accusations from the Saudi-led coalition that the UAE helped move Aidarous al-Zubaidi, head of Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council (STC), ahead of scheduled talks in Saudi Arabia.
Somalia’s Immigration and Citizenship Agency said in a statement on Thursday it is verifying the “unauthorized use” of national airspace, a move that threatens to drag Mogadishu into the center of a bitter rift between its Gulf allies.
The agency said investigators are coordinating with other national authorities to determine whether aviation protocols were breached. If officials confirm the claims, the agency said it will pursue accountability.
The ‘extraction’ route
Somalia’s statement did not name al-Zubaidi, but it followed the Saudi-led coalition’s account of his movements.
The coalition said al-Zubaidi travelled by boat from Yemen to Somaliland, then boarded an aircraft that passed through Somali airspace to Mogadishu before flying on to a military base in Abu Dhabi.
It also alleged that UAE officers were on board and that the aircraft briefly stopped transmitting tracking data before reappearing near its destination.
According to intelligence briefings, Al-Zoubaidi fled Aden by sea on Wednesday night, crossing the Gulf of Aden to the port of Berbera in the breakaway region of Somaliland.
There, he reportedly boarded an Emirati Ilyushin Il-76 transport plane that flew him to safety in Abu Dhabi.
To avoid detection, the aircraft allegedly switched off its transponder as it crossed Somali territory—a maneuver that directly challenges Mogadishu’s sovereignty.
In a sharp rebuke, the ICA warned that any “external support” facilitating the movement of fugitives violates bilateral agreements.
“The facilitation of fugitives or the conduct of unilateral operations on Somali territory without lawful authorization is unacceptable,” the agency stated, signaling it would not allow Somalia to become a passive transit hub for regional power plays.
Gulf coalition rift
The incident has blown open a fracture within the anti-Houthi coalition. While Saudi Arabia backs Yemen’s unity under the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), the UAE supports the STC’s push for an independent southern state.
Tensions boiled over earlier this week when the Saudi-backed government charged Al-Zoubaidi with “high treason” after he failed to show up for peace talks in Riyadh.
The Emirati airlift effectively placed him beyond the Kingdom’s reach, infuriating Saudi officials who view the move as a direct challenge to their leadership in the region.
Somalia’s immigration agency did not respond in detail to the UAE-related claims. Instead, it focused on legal process, warning that it will not accept “unilateral operations” or the movement of fugitives through Somali territory without clearance.
“Respect for sovereignty and adherence to legal frameworks is non-negotiable,” the statement said.
The agency added that Mogadishu backs Saudi Arabia’s call for dialogue in Riyadh, and warned that using Somali territory to bypass that track would undermine diplomatic efforts.
For President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the timing could not be worse. His administration relies on the UAE for critical security training but remains politically aligned with the Arab League and Saudi Arabia on the issue of Yemen’s unity.
The ICA’s statement walked a fine line, emphasizing that “respect for sovereignty” is non-negotiable without explicitly naming the UAE.
By promising “appropriate measures” based on the investigation’s findings, Mogadishu is sending a clear signal: it will not accept foreign military logistics treating Somalia as an ungoverned space.
If confirmed, the use of Somaliland as a staging ground only deepens the headache.
The breakaway region frequently hosts UAE military assets independently of the federal government, a reality that continues to undermine Mogadishu’s efforts to assert control over its borders.
