Somalia has canceled all agreements with the United Arab Emirates, including port, security, and defense deals, citing a severe breach of its sovereignty. The action was triggered by the alleged illegal entry of a UAE-backed Yemeni separatist leader, who reportedly arrived via a cargo plane through the breakaway region of Somaliland. Somali officials described the incident as “the last straw” following prolonged diplomatic frustrations with Abu Dhabi. This unilateral decision has exposed internal fractures, as several autonomous Somali regions with close ties to the UAE immediately rejected Mogadishu’s authority to cancel the agreements. The rift is further complicated by regional geopolitics, including Israel’s recent recognition of Somaliland—a move Somalia believes the UAE facilitated. Somalia’s government now seeks to reclaim its national autonomy, insisting that all international partners engage directly with the federal state.
Al Jazeera
