Mogadishu (Somalia Today) — Somalia’s Office of the Attorney General (AGO) has opened a criminal investigation into a Turkish Airlines manager. The probe follows accusations that the official abused his authority to block a Somali citizen from traveling.
The AGO issued a press statement on Monday, November 17, confirming that a formal case file is now active. The subject of the investigation is Turahan Kenmen, the station manager for Turkish Airlines in Somalia.
The complaint was filed by Abdifatah Ahmed Hussein, a private citizen. According to the prosecutor’s office, Kenmen “intentionally abused his power” and violated Hussein’s constitutional rights.
The statement claims that the manager blocked Hussein from boarding a flight, despite having completed all required security and travel procedures.
“The office has started a full investigation into the case,” the AGO statement said. “Once the inquiry is complete, we will take the appropriate legal steps.”
A pattern of humiliation
The charges against the Turkish Airlines manager fit into a wider pattern of complaints. Travelers have frequently accused the airline’s local management of hostile and aggressive behavior.
Abdi Addow, a prominent social media activist and a member of the National Electoral Commission, recently shared a similar account. He alleged that Kenmen publicly humiliated him and other passengers.
“As we joined the queue at boarding time, he denied us passage,” Addow said in a Facebook post. “‘Return to where you came from,’ he said, before slamming the door in our faces.”
Addow described the manager as wielding “unchecked power” that appears to override standard airport security protocols.
“I don’t know where he gets this extra power from,” Addow wrote. “He behaves abusively and excessively toward Somalis. There is nowhere to file a complaint against him, and no one to stop him.”
Other travelers have echoed these concerns. A content creator known as “Somali Gamer” claimed the same manager physically removed him from the boarding stairs.
Additionally, reports surfaced of a young Somali traveler from Sweden who was detained and refused a replacement ticket without any explanation.
Tensions at the airport
These individual allegations come at a tense time for Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport. The facility is managed by Favori LLC, another Turkish company, which has faced its own labor disputes.
Just days before the AGO announcement, airport operations were disrupted by a workers’ strike. Somali staff accused Favori LLC of firing local employees to replace them with foreign workers.
Labor unions have long criticized Favori for alleged violations of workers’ rights. In 2021, Somalia’s Supreme Court even upheld a ruling against the firm for the unfair dismissal of local employees.
The investigation creates a diplomatic challenge because Turkey is a key partner for Somalia.
Turkish Airlines was the first major international carrier to resume regular flights to Mogadishu in March 2012. This was a historic step that ended decades of aviation isolation for the country.
However, the relationship remains complex. While the flights are a lifeline, the UN Monitoring Group has previously criticized the airport management deal as “technically poor” for Somalia.
Public frustration is now mounting. Activists like Addow are calling for a boycott, warning Somalis against “exchanging their money for humiliation.”
As of Monday, Turkish Airlines had not responded to requests for comment regarding the investigation. The Attorney General’s office states that it remains committed to protecting the constitutional rights of all individuals in Somalia.
