Prosecutor General Orders Probe into $2.5 Million Aden Airport Cleaning Claim

Prosecutor General Qahir Mustafa has ordered an official investigation into a controversial financial claim of $2.5 million for ground cleaning services at Aden International Airport. The Public Funds Prosecution Department has been tasked with initiating necessary legal procedures and uncovering the circumstances surrounding the case.

This directive coincides with actions taken by the Ministry of Transport, which has established a special investigative committee to examine the details of the financial claim submitted by a contractor and verify its legality and the procedures involved.

According to Ministerial Decision No. (18) of 2026, the committee will be chaired by the Deputy Minister of Transport, Nasser Ahmed Shareef. It will include several officials and specialists from the ministry, along with representatives from the General Authority of Civil Aviation and Meteorology. The committee's mandate is to ascertain the facts and submit a comprehensive report with findings and recommendations.

The committee comprises the Director General of Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Transport, the Minister's Advisor for Air Transport Sector, and relevant technical and administrative leaders from the General Authority of Civil Aviation and the airport administration, aiming for a thorough professional and technical assessment of the issue.

The formation of this committee is based on laws and decisions governing state institutions and the powers vested in the Ministry of Transport, reflecting an official direction to review several financial and administrative files related to the air transport sector and enhance transparency and accountability standards.

The background of the case dates back to the tenure of former Minister of Transport Abdul Salam Hamid. A contractor performed cleaning work on the runway of Aden International Airport for a sum described as substantial, sparking widespread debate and considered excessive by observers relative to the nature of the work executed.