KAMPALA (SD) – Uganda Airlines announced that it will expand its passenger routes by adding new direct flight to and from Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland.

The airlines will start its new Somaliland route this year to explore potential market in the region.

Uganda’s state media New Vision reported that Uganda Airlines has revised its destinations to Somalia, India, UK and UAE.

This follows after the company acquired two Airbus A330neo by the national carrier last month.

The move by Ugandan Airlines to start Somaliland comes on heel of a decision by Kenya Airways to start direct flights to Hargeisa in March.

Somaliland, a self-declared state with a relative peace for the last two decades, has been recently struggling to enhance its relationship with countries in the region as well as whole continent.

During an official visit to Kenya last month, Somaliland president, Muse Bihi Abdi inked new deal diplomatic deal Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta who announced his country bid to have a new consulate in Hargeisa town.

The move angered Somali government which severed its relations with Kenya by declaring to cut diplomatic ties with Kenya.

Somalia also accused Kenya of supporting Jubbaland state forces saying the forces were homed in Mandera town near Somalia-Kenya border.

The Horn of Africa nation claimed that Kenya armed ‘local militias’ to attack Beled-Hawa town in Gedo region.

Forces of the federal government of Somalia had last March dislodged Jubbaland forces from Beled-Hawa town.