Somalia opens probe into UAE-aligned STC head’s secret escape via its territory

MOGADISHU, Jan. 08 (YPA) – The Somali government declared on Wednesday opening an expanded investigation following statements by Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition forces in the Yemen war, regarding the departure of UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC)’s leader Aidrous al-Zubaidi, through Somali territory.

In an official statement, the Somali Immigration and Nationality Authority said it probed allegations of unauthorized use of its country’s airports and airspace to facilitate the movement of the STC’s head, describing such actions as a serious violation of national sovereignty and international law.

The authority emphasized that facilitating the escape of wanted individuals or conducting unilateral operations on Somali soil without official authorization is strictly prohibited.

It warned that verification of the allegations would constitute a direct breach of existing bilateral agreements and a clear violation of national immigration regulations.

The investigation followed a coalition statement detailing the moves of al-Zubaidi and his companions from Aden city, south of Yemen, after midnight on January 7. They traveled aboard a naval vessel named Bamedhaf (IMO 8101393), departing from Aden to Somaliland, where the ship’s Automatic Identification System was turned off, arriving at Berbera port around noon.

According to the coalition, al-Zubaidi contacted an Emirati officer, known as “Abu Saeed, Maj. Gen. Awad Saeed Musleh Al-Ahbabi, commander of UAE Joint Operations, to confirm his arrival in Berbera.

An Ilyushin IL-76 aircraft ‘flight 9102 – MZB’ awaited them, transporting al-Zubaidi and his companions under Emirati supervision without disclosing the final destination.

The plane reportedly landed at Mogadishu Airport at 15:15, remained for approximately one hour, then departed for the Arabian Gulf, ultimately arriving at Abu Dhabi’s “Rif” military airport at 20:47 Riyadh time.

AA