Mogadishu Radio HornAfrik (in Somali)

[HornAfrik announcer] An urgent report we have just received says the first commercial passenger plane, which belongs to Jubba Airways, has moments ago, landed at Mogadishu International Airport. Our reporter Abdullahi Kulmiye Adow has more on this:

[Adow] An official from Jubba Airways, which plies the Mogadishu route, Mr Husayn Ali Muhammad a.k.a Husayn Galawo, has confirmed to us that the first Jubba Airways commercial flight has just landed at Mogadishu International Airport after the Union of the Islamic Courts took control of the airport on 14 July.

This will be first commercial flight to begin operating from this airport.

[Galawo] The plane came from Dubai and it was carrying cargo and it will take passengers from here.

[Adow] How many passengers was the plane carrying [when it came] and what is the motive behind your plane landing at this airport at point in time?

[Galawo] We landed at this airport because, with God’s blessing, we got peace and security in the capital city and the airport is ready to receive flights. We therefore decided to land at this airport. This is the beginning and in future, if all goes well, we shall land at this same airport.

[Adow] Where do you take these passengers that you are planning to take now?

[Galawo] The flight will go via Dubai and they will be going there.

[Announcer] This is the first commercial plane which landed at this airport this morning. The Mogadishu-based airline firms, which are several, used to land at private airfields like Belet Doogle airport, No.50, Ceesaaley and others.

Before the Union of the Islamic Courts took control of the Mogadishu International Airport, different militias used to control the airport. However, since the Union of the Islamic Courts took over the control and administration of Mogadishu city, a total change in terms of the public movement, security and the general situation has been experienced.

Today’s event, the landing of the first commercial plane at the Mogadishu International Airport, is a clear indication on how the Union of the Islamic Courts has succeeded in opening of the most important economic lifeline of Mogadishu city and it is expected that the new Mogadishu city administration will build on this reality.