Ceeldheer Airport

The closure was a direct result of the Somali Civil War. The primary reasons include:
1. **State Collapse:** The disintegration of the central government in 1991 eliminated the Civil Aviation Authority's ability to manage, maintain, and secure national airports and airstrips.
2. **Insecurity:** Decades of conflict and lawlessness made ground operations and flights unsafe. The town of Ceeldheer and the surrounding Galgaduud region were a major conflict zone.
3. **Militant Control:** For over a decade, the area was controlled by Al-Shabaab, which made it impossible for any official government, civilian, or humanitarian flights to operate.
4. **Lack of Maintenance:** Without a functioning government or local economy to support it, the unpaved runway fell into disrepair due to neglect, erosion, and vegetation growth.

As of 2024, Ceeldheer Airport is abandoned and non-operational. Satellite imagery confirms the presence of a discernible but degraded dirt runway approximately 1.3 kilometers long, located northwest of the town. The surface is unmaintained, with visible signs of erosion and encroaching vegetation. There are no terminal buildings, hangars, or aviation infrastructure on site. Following the recapture of Ceeldheer by the Somali National Army and allied local forces in early 2023, the airstrip's vicinity is under government control, but the strip itself is not in a condition to handle regular air traffic. It may be used informally by military vehicles, but it is not fit for aviation purposes without significant rehabilitation.

When active prior to the civil war, Ceeldheer Airport was a vital infrastructure asset for the coastal town of Ceeldheer. It functioned as a basic, unpaved airstrip primarily serving:
- **Government and Administrative Flights:** Transporting government officials, mail, and supplies between the capital, Mogadishu, and the regional administration.
- **Light Cargo and Commerce:** Facilitating the movement of small, high-value goods, particularly those difficult to transport via the region's poor road network.
- **Humanitarian and Medical Use:** Enabling access for NGOs and providing a means for medical evacuations in emergencies.
- **Connectivity:** It served as a key link for the local community, connecting the relatively isolated coastal town to the rest of the country. Operations would have been limited to small, propeller-driven aircraft capable of landing on short, unprepared dirt runways (STOL aircraft).

There are no official, publicly announced plans or timelines for the reopening of Ceeldheer Airport. However, with the Somali government's recapture of the territory, the prospect of its rehabilitation exists. Reopening the airstrip would be highly beneficial for:
- **Stabilization Efforts:** Allowing for the rapid deployment of security forces and supplies.
- **Humanitarian Aid:** Providing a direct route for NGOs to deliver food, medicine, and other essential aid to a population recovering from conflict and militant rule.
- **Governance:** Enabling government officials to re-establish services and administration in the region.
Any potential reopening is entirely contingent on the long-term stabilization of security in the Galgaduud region, the allocation of significant funding for runway grading and repair, and the establishment of basic ground security and communication facilities. The immediate priorities for the government are likely focused on security and basic humanitarian needs on the ground.