The tension escalated after Somaliland, a self-declared independent region, allowed Ethiopia to establish a naval base, build a port, and create a transport corridor in exchange for a stake in its national carrier.
Somalia views this region as part of its territory and is contesting the deal.
The Somali Civil Aviation Authority criticized Ethiopian Airlines for omitting references to Somali destinations and using only airport codes to bypass the sovereignty dispute.
The agency warned, “If these issues are not resolved by Aug. 23, the SCAA will have no choice but to suspend all Ethiopian Airlines flights to Somalia,” according to a letter sent to the carrier.
Ethiopian Airlines operates flights to Hargeisa in Somaliland, Garowe in Puntland, and Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital. Other airlines serving Somalia include Flydubai, Kenya Airways, and Turkish Airlines.
Originally a British protectorate, Somaliland merged with Italian Somalia in 1960 but declared independence in 1991 following civil unrest.
The region is known for its regular elections, own passports and currency, and is considered more stable and economically developed than the rest of Somalia.