Three semi-autonomous regions in Somalia have dismissed the federal government’s recent decision to sever ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a long-standing security and economic partner.
On Monday, Somalia annulled all agreements with the UAE, including in the field of security, accusing the Gulf nation—which has trained and funded Somalia’s army and invested in its ports—of undermining the country’s sovereignty. Mogadishu did not provide detailed reasons for the move but is reportedly investigating allegations that the UAE facilitated the movement of a separatist leader from Yemen via Somali territory. Separately, the UAE has been linked to Israel’s recognition last month of Somaliland, a breakaway region in northern Somalia, as an independent state.
The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The country has long pursued strategic interests in the Horn of Africa and Red Sea regions, competing with other wealthy Gulf states for influence.
Despite Mogadishu’s announcement, Somaliland, Puntland, and Jubbaland said they would continue their relations with the UAE.
“Somalia’s daydreaming changes nothing … The UAE is here to stay, no matter what a weak administration in Mogadishu says,” said Khadar Hussein Abdi, Minister of the Presidency of Somaliland.
The Jubbaland regional government described Mogadishu’s decision as “null and void,” confirming that existing security and development agreements with the UAE will continue. Puntland echoed the stance, stating that the decision would not affect its cooperation with the UAE, including agreements over the coastal city of Bosaso, where a UAE subsidiary, DP World, holds a 30-year port concession.
For decades, Somalia’s federal government has struggled to extend authority across the country and defeat Islamist militants, despite international support, including African peacekeepers and U.S. air strikes. Meanwhile, the UAE has maintained influence by training hundreds of Somali troops from 2014 to 2018 and continuing to provide salaries and logistics for roughly 3,400 military police and special forces in and around Mogadishu.
The UAE has also developed strong ties with Somalia’s regional administrations, investing hundreds of millions of dollars in port and military infrastructure along strategic shipping routes, solidifying its presence in the Horn of Africa.
