Based in Nairobi, the CACAS served as a caretaker for Somalia's airspace since the collapse of the central government in the early 1990s following the outbreak of the civil war.
The organization collected over-flight revenues on behalf of the country, re-investing the proceeds into air traffic control and airport maintenance.
In 2002, the newly formed Transitional National Government (TNG) briefly re-assumed control of Somalia's airspace with the re-establishment of the Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SOMCAA) by the Ministry of Air and Land Transport.
[7] After meeting with CACAS representatives, Abdullahi Elmoge Hersi, Somalia's Minister of Information, Posts and Telecommunications, announced in May 2013 that the Somali federal government would reassume control of the country's airspace by December 31.
[8] On 17 December 2014, Minister of Air and Land Transport Said Jama Mohamed announced that the Somali federal government had regained control of its airspace after reaching an agreement with the International Civil Aviation Organization.