Doolow , Somalia — August 28, 2026 — Somalia’s federal government has reportedly agreed to reopen Doolow airport in Gedo, with flights expected to resume on Saturday, August 29, according to information provided for this report. The move would restore an important transport link for residents affected by restrictions amid the federal government’s dispute with Jubbaland.
The account says Doolow’s administration resisted pressure to bypass Jubbaland authorities and establish direct administrative relations with Mogadishu. It links the aviation restrictions to the wider struggle over political authority in the district.
An official reopening notice and airline schedules were not available in the material reviewed. The conditions attached to the reported decision, including any security or administrative agreement, remain unclear.
Earlier Closures and Reopening
Published reporting indicates that Doolow’s flight restrictions have involved separate episodes rather than a verified, uninterrupted two-year closure.
In May 2025, the federal Ministry of Internal Security announced that flights could resume following a security review and assurances from local authorities. The airport had been closed since December 2024 after an aircraft allegedly diverted to Doolow without authorisation, according to the government’s account
Federal authorities presented that reopening as conditional on airport safety and compliance with national aviation regulations. Jubbaland, however, had accused Mogadishu of using flight restrictions to exert political pressure.
In June 2026, Jubbaland’s transport ministry said the airport had again been closed since July 19, 2025. It warned that the restrictions were affecting humanitarian assistance, trade and healthcare
That chronology places the latest reported reopening against more than a year of renewed disruption.
Background to the Federal–Jubbaland Conflict
Disputes between Mogadishu and Jubbaland have repeatedly escalated into armed confrontation, particularly over control of Gedo and the conduct of regional elections.
On January 25, 2021, federal troops and Jubbaland forces fought in Bula Hawa, near the Kenyan border. A local doctor told Reuters that at least 11 people were killed. Both administrations acknowledged fighting, although neither initially supplied casualty figures. The confrontation demonstrated how political disagreements could draw rival security forces into populated border towns.
Relations deteriorated again after Ahmed Mohamed Islam, known as Ahmed Madobe, secured another term as Jubbaland president in November 2024. The federal government rejected the election, saying it had proceeded without federal involvement. Jubbaland subsequently suspended relations and cooperation with Mogadishu.
The dispute escalated into reciprocal arrest warrants targeting Madobe and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. In January 2026, Garowe Online reported that the federal warrant against Madobe had been withdrawn ahead of planned political talks in Mogadishu.
The November election confrontation was followed by fighting at Ras Kamboni on December 11, 2024. Federal and Jubbaland officials accused each other of initiating hostilities, while communications disruptions made casualty verification difficult.
The following day, the federal government announced the withdrawal of its forces from Lower Juba, saying it wanted to prevent further bloodshed. Jubbaland officials said their troops had defeated federal forces at Ras Kamboni.
For residents, a sustained resumption of flights could ease travel for medical treatment, business and family visits. Jubbaland’s recent complaints about disrupted services underline the civilian consequences of aviation restrictions, although the scale of those effects has not been independently established.