The Somali government has announced the suspension of commercial flights to and from Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport on February 22 when president-elect Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed will be sworn into office.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation said: “The only exception to the suspension is flights that will be used by the dignitaries from the international community attending the inauguration ceremony on February 22”.

Mr Mohamed was elected president on February 8.