File image. (Anadolu Agency)
Somalia has annulled all security and defense agreements with the United Arab Emirates citing alleged breaches of the country’s sovereignty, national unity, and political independence, the country’s Council of Ministers announced on January 12.
In a statement, the council said that the decision was taken based on “reports and strong evidence regarding wrongful actions that undermine the sovereignty, national unity, and political independence” of the Horn of Africa country.
All ministers agreed during a cabinet meeting to annul all agreements and cooperative arrangements with the UAE concerning the ports of Berbera, Bosaso, and Kismayo, the statement added, noting that the ministries also approved a draft law on protecting Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial unity, along with an arbitration bill.
The bill would bar regional administrations and private entities from entering into agreements with foreign parties without prior notification to, and approval from, the federal government and oversight by the relevant ministry, according to the statement.
Tensions between Somalia and the UAE began to rise last month when Israel recognized the breakaway region of Somaliland.
Abdu Dhabi, which cultivated deep economic and security ties in the northern Somali region in recent years, was suspected of playing a role in the Israeli decision.
The centrepiece of the UAE strategy in Somaliland is a $442 million investment by Dubai-based logistics company DP World to develop and operate the Port of Berbera.
The direct reason behind the Somali decision was, however, an investigation by the country’s Immigration and Citizenship Agency that was launched after the Saudi-led Arab Coalition in Yemen announced that the UAE had spirited a separatist leader out of Yemen via Somalia.
The coalition said last week that Aidarous al-Zubaidi, head of Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council, fled the southern Yemeni city of Aden by sea to Somaliland, before flying from there to Abu Dhabi. Somalia said at the time that if the allegation were proved true it would represent a serious violation of its sovereignty.
The UAE ignored the Somali announcement, but DP World said on January 13 its operations at Berbera port were continuing under existing agreements.
“DP World remains focused on the safe, efficient operation of the port and on delivering trade facilitation and economic benefits for Somaliland and the wider Horn of Africa region,” it said in a statement to Reuters, adding that questions on “political decisions, intergovernmental discussions, or diplomatic positions should be directed to the relevant authorities.”
While the Somali decision was a blow to the UAE, it is highly unlikely that the country will be able to force Abu Dhabi out of Somaliland.
The decision was likely encouraged by Saudi Arabia, which shows that as expected the emerging conflict between the two former allies didn’t end with the UAE withdrawal from Yemen. It can be said that the conflict has now reached Somalia, and will soon manifest also in Sudan.
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