PHOTO-ESSAY: Aden Adde International. A symbol of a resurgent city
Editor’s Note: This is the Second installment of a new weekly photo-essay series we have put together to share with our readers. Somalia is presently undergoing an extraordinary economic and political development as the terrorist group Al Shabab is pushed from key urban centers and Somalis return from all over the world to rebuild their nation. This new weekly photo-essay series will tell this new chapter of Somalia.
Our second feature deals with the rapid renovation and expansion of Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport. Originally built in 1928, the Aden Adde Airport was the first of its kind in East Africa and initially used by the Italian colonialists as a military facility and airport. It carried regular flights between Mogadishu and Eritrea, another Italian Colony in East Africa. In 1936, Aden Adde’s first intercontinental flight between Mogadishu to Roma became one of the longest at the time.
Following Somalia’s independence in 1960, the airport was expanded and became the hub of the country’s flag carrier Somali Airlines. The airport also housed the Somali Air Corps which maintained its facilities at the airport. The Somali Air Academy was hosted at the Aden Adde International Airport. Following the Somali Civil War, the airport ceased to exist. In 2013, a Turkish firm Favori was given management of the airport and it promised to modernize and expand the airport. The $10-million renovation project was designed to increase the airport’s aircraft capacity to 60 daily.
A bus waits to take passengers to their plane. A common sight at Mogadishu’s old terminal
An unmarked plane waits at the tarmac of Aden Adde Airport in Mogadishu.
An unmarked plane waits at the tarmac waits at Aden Adde International Airport
A WFP plane and an AMISOM military helicopters at Aden Adde
Aden Adde’s $10-million new terminal going through its final touches.
A common sight in Aden Adde’s airport. Not unusual to see passengers manually move their luggage on the tarmac
Aden Adde commands a majestic view of the Indian Ocean
A new air traffic tower control takes shape. This modern air traffic control tower will significantly improve the airport’s capacity to handle more flights day and night.
Construction crew work on a new watch tower to house snipers and armed guards to protect the Airport’s Special Compound that houses International Security Forces in Somalia. On Christmas Eve last year, Al Shabab Militants attacked the base and killed AU and Private Security Contractors.
Construction crew work on a new watch tower to house snipers and armed guards to protect the Airport’s Special Compound that houses International Security Forces in Somalia. On Christmas Eve last year, Al Shabab Militants attacked the base and killed AU and Private Security Contractors.
Construction crew work on a new watch tower to house snipers and armed guards to protect the Airport’s Special Compound that houses International Security Forces in Somalia. On Christmas Eve last year, Al Shabab Militants attacked the base and killed AU and Private Security Contractors.
