Why Somalia has severed ties with the UAE
Somalia has officially suspended all agreements with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), accusing Abu Dhabi of violating Somali sovereignty and undermining national unity.
The announcement was made by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in a televised address, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions.
Why did Somalia expel the UAE?
According to Somali officials, the UAE had been using military bases in Bosaso and Berbera, strategically important coastal cities as logistics hubs to support military operations in Sudan’s ongoing conflict. In addition, Mogadishu accuses Abu Dhabi of backing Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, the semi-autonomous northern region seeking independence from Somalia.
“Unfortunately, the UAE failed to respect those ties within the framework of a united, sovereign and independent Somali state. We did not rush this decision. We gave ample time and repeatedly demanded that the UAE respect Somalia’s sovereignty and independence,” Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud explained in a televised address.
He added that the decision followed “extensive and careful consultations” after repeated actions by the UAE that were “unknown to and unwelcome by the Federal Government.”
The Israel-Somaliland link
The fallout comes just weeks after Israel became the first country to officially recognise Somaliland, a move which has been condemned across Africa and the Arab world. Somali authorities believe the UAE played a behind-the-scenes role in facilitating this recognition.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
