MOGADISHU, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The Somali Civil Aviation and Meteorology Authority (SCAMA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have jointly agreed to close the office in Kenya's Nairobi after nearly 30 years.
SCAMA, which regulates civil aviation activities in the Horn of Africa nation, said the airspace will now be controlled within Somalia as part of his government's commitment to restore important public service.
"We are pleased to announce that from today (Monday) onwards the office operating in Nairobi has been closed and work will resume from Somalia. Somalia's airspace will be controlled within Somalia after nearly 30 years," the regulator tweeted the announcement seen on Wednesday.
The move comes after the Somalia government in December 2017 inaugurated the offices and also installed equipment at Mogadishu International Airport, saying the move represents a significant step towards the development of the country.
ICAO has been controlling Somalia's airspace from its regional office in Nairobi since the fall of the country's central government in 1991. The UN body has also been collecting revenue on behalf of Mogadishu.
The government has since relocated more than 30 air controllers who were working in Nairobi to operate in Mogadishu.