In a dramatic move, Somalia’s federal government has announced the cancellation of all port management and security cooperation agreements with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This decision comes amid a brewing diplomatic storm over the UAE’s alleged role in supporting Somaliland’s push for independence.
The decision, announced by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, marks a significant deterioration in the long-standing partnership between Somalia and the oil-rich Gulf state. Somalia has accused the UAE of undermining the country’s sovereignty, a charge the UAE has not yet responded to.
The backdrop to this decision is Israel’s recent recognition of Somaliland’s independence, a move that Somalia views as an infringement on its territorial integrity. The country believes the UAE played a behind-the-scenes role in supporting this outcome, a claim that the UAE has not yet addressed.
“Somalia views this as an infringement of its territorial integrity and believes the UAE played a behind-the-scenes role in supporting the outcome,” says Omar Mahmoud, a senior researcher at the International Crisis Group think-tank.
The diplomatic fallout has led to the UAE reportedly evacuating its security personnel and heavy military equipment from the air base in Bosaso, a strategic port city in Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland.
This is not the first time tensions have flared between Somalia and the UAE. In 2018, Somalia, then under President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, severed ties with the UAE, accusing it of interference in the country’s internal affairs. The current president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who was an opposition figure at the time, had strongly defended the UAE’s involvement in Somalia, but has now adopted a sharply different position.
Analysts suggest that the decision to cancel the port deals is likely driven by a combination of factors, including Somalia’s desire to rally international support against Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, as well as the shifting dynamics in the region, particularly the UAE’s involvement in the war in Yemen.
However, the Somali government’s ability to enforce this decision is limited, as it lacks control over the breakaway state of Somaliland and the semi-autonomous regions of Puntland and Jubaland, where the UAE-managed ports are located.
The diplomatic rift has raised concerns about the potential impact on regional stability and security, given the strategic importance of the Horn of Africa region. As Somalia seeks to rally international support, the future of its relationship with the UAE remains uncertain, with analysts suggesting that it will take significant diplomacy and concrete steps to mend the trust that has been lost.
