Mogadishu – Somalia’s aviation industry has found an unlikely trailblazer in Yasmin Abdi Farah — the nation’s only active female pilot, defying long-standing gender barriers in one of the world’s most male-dominated professions.
At a time when Somali women are steadily breaking into professions once deemed inaccessible, Yasmin’s rise to the cockpit has become a powerful symbol of resilience and possibility.
Flying both domestic and regional routes, Yasmin stands out not just for her skill but for the sheer rarity of her presence in Somali skies.
Her journey was not one of privilege but of determination. Trained abroad due to limited aviation facilities at home, she endured skepticism, cultural resistance and logistical hurdles. Yet those obstacles only strengthened her resolve.
Today, she is not just flying aircraft — she is helping shift the narrative about what Somali women can achieve.
Videos of her confidently commanding aircraft controls have gone viral across Somali social media, sparking admiration from young girls and applause from parents eager to see their daughters dream bigger.
Aviation authorities and youth organisations have begun highlighting her achievements in mentorship programs and women-in-STEM campaigns. Yasmin, for her part, hopes her success will lead to more women joining her at 30,000 feet.
“I don’t want to be the only one. I want to be the first of many,” she has repeatedly stated in her past media interviews.
In a country rebuilding itself from conflict, Somalia’s future may very well be written in the clouds — and Yasmin Abdi Farah is leading the ascent.