Somalia’s president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has inaugurated an international airport in Bossaso, the commercial hub of Puntland, a semiautonomous region in northern Somalia, with Somali leaders were the first to use the new upgraded facility that will handle hundreds of flights each month.
The Chinese-built Bossaso airport will be the second largest airport in Somalia after the modernized Mogadishu airport built by the Turkish government.
Speaking after the ribbon cutting ceremony at the airport’s main entrance, Mr. Mohamud has described the airport as ‘milestone’, crediting ‘peace-loving’ Puntland people with the ‘impressive’ achievement.
“We have so far made a good progress and with unity we can overcome the challenges ahead including the security.” He said.
In addition, Puntland president Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gas said that the airport ‘will play vital role in the region’s trade and commerce with other countries.
Puntland, and its northern breakaway region of Somaliland have escaped Somalia’s decades-old conflict which killed thousands and displaced millions to other countries, mainly Kenya and Ethiopia.
