2.3.2. Mobility and accessibility

Garowe International Airport (also called General Abshir International Airport) is the third largest airport in Somalia. It located some 12 kilometres outside of the city.1108 It was established in its current location around 2007. Over the years it was enlarged and developed. There are around ten flights daily. Domestic flights connect Garowe to Mogadishu, Hargeisa and Bosaso. International flights connect Garowe and Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Dubai and Jeddah.1109 The international flights are mostly operated by Ethiopian Airlines, Djibouti Air, Freedom Airline Express, Said Airlines and Daallo Airlines (the latter three being Somali- owned).1110 Domestic flights are offered to Mogadishu through Freedom Airline Express, Jubba Airways, and Daalo Airline; to Galkacyo via Jubba Airways; to Hargeisa through Jubba Airways; and to Bosasso via Ethiopian Airlines and Jubba Airways.1111 In 2023, 14 999 arrivals and 18 957 departures were counted at Garowe airport.1112

Three large roads lead into Garowe: one coming from the east, from Lasanod; one coming from the north-east, from Bosaso; and one coming from the south, from Galkayo. Checkpoints are located at these three city entrances. They are manned by Puntland police. Cars entering the city are loosely controlled. Only if there is a suspicion or an alert, measures to monitor entries/exits more carefully are taken.1113 Inside Garowe, there are no permanent checkpoints. Only ad hoc, the police sometimes sets up controls.1114

Newcomers who are ethnic Somalis can settle in the city and also rent a place and register a business. Usually, and ID or passport is required for renting and/or registering a business. Yet, regarding renting a place, there are also cases where people know each other or someone vouches for the tenant. Then formalities, including an ID, are not required.1115 Indeed, people from all over Somalia can settle in Garowe and start a business. In recent years even IDPs and refugees coming from Ethiopia (e.g. Oromo) get to some degree integrated in Garowe. In the wake of the recent war of Puntland forces against ISIS1116 some foreigners were deported from Garowe (and other places in Puntland), including Oromo, Yemenis and Syrians.1117

Non-Somali foreigners can get work permits according to Article 33 of Law No. 65 (Labour Law). The law mandates that the Ministry of Labour must clarify if there is a Somali national with an equivalent qualification and experience who could take the job before a foreign worker can be employed. Moreover, background checks must be conducted by the relevant authorities and it must be clear that the candidate has no criminal history. Once all is cleared, a work permit and a corresponding visa can be issued to a foreigner.1118

A Somali national settling into Garowe has to, at least in theory, provide an ID and register with the local government. In practice, however, people can also settle through personal connections.1119