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Hundreds stranded in Hargeisa for lack of outbound flights

August 23, 2011   ·   2351015 Commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fsomalilandpress.com%2Fdjibouti-airline-abandons-mothers-and-kids-in-somaliland-23510Hundreds+stranded+in+Hargeisa+for+lack+of+outbound+flights2011-08-24+02%3A03%3A47Mo+Guledhttp%3A%2F%2Fsomalilandpress.com%2F%3Fp%3D23510

HARGEISA (SomalilandPress)— Djibouti Airline the national carrier of Djibouti has left hundreds of mothers and their children in Somaliland after its suspension of services to Somaliland without notifying passengers or refunding their fees. Djibouti Airline made its first flight service to Somaliland beginning of this summer and according to flight itinerary records the airline has made over thirty seven flights since it began service in Somaliland. The Djibouti government received a major private investment to launch Djibouti Air as its national carrier. It was a joint-venture between the Djibouti Government and the UAE’s Lootah Group, Ibrahim Saeed Lootah, chairman of Lootah Group, a real estate and construction giant.

Roughly hundred people consisting of aggravated mothers with their kids today protested in front of Noble Travel Agency and Tour’s office in downtown Hargeisa and requested either a refund of their money or an alternative airline. Noble Travel Agency and Tourism has been Djibouti Airline’s country representative to Somaliland, however according to the managing director of Noble Travel Agency and Tours Mr. Abdiqafar Mohamud Essa they no longer have contract with Djibouti Airline. Mr. Essa goes on to say “we had a three months trial period agreement with Djibouti Airline, however they failed to obey the terms of the contract and now over two thousand vacationers are stuck in Somaliland due to Djibouti Airline’s negligent”.

Ramla Ali a mother of seven children told SomalilandPress that she came to Somaliland on July 23 from London and that she is schedule to depart on September 1st however that will not be possible now that Djibouti Airline has suspended services to Somaliland. Mrs. Ali also said that she paid $1000 per person and that it has taken her for two years to save so that she can give her children the opportunity to visit their motherland. Abdi Sulub Hussen another frustrated travel told SomalilandPress that he came to Somaliland so that he can invest in his homeland with $20,000 that he saved last few years, but now that he has no return flight back he will lose his job in London. Mr. Hussen said that he went to speak with the managing director of at the Ministry of Aviation and to his surprise the managing director told him “the Diaspora has no right with us, you should complain to those that sold you the tickets”.
Saleeban Samatar Muse from Norway and his family consisting of five said in his case, he was at Berbera Airport when Djibouti Airline made its last service to Somaliland and that he had his boarding passes but due to nepotism from Berbera Airport Manager his seats were given to others. Mr. Muse said “I blame Berbera Airport manager who purposely gave our seats to others and when we complained did not want to hear our concern”.

No word from Somaliland government regarding Djibouti Airline’s suspension of flight services between Somaliland and Djibouti and all the stranded Diaspora that decided to vacation their homeland. Hundreds of children will be missing their first day back to school because of this negligent from Djibouti Airline and the Somaliland government’s ability to resolve the issue.

Somalilandpress | 24 August 2011

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By Mo Guled

Tags: Djibouti, Somaliland, Somaliland minister of Aviation Ali Mohamed Waran Ade, Somalilandpress