Somalia has dramatically terminated all port management and security cooperation agreements with the United Arab Emirates, marking a critical deterioration in their longstanding partnership. The decision follows Israel’s unprecedented recognition of Somaliland as an independent state in late December—a move Somalia condemns as a violation of its territorial integrity.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared the termination after an extraordinary cabinet meeting, stating that while Somalia valued its relationship with the UAE, the Gulf nation failed to engage with Somalia as a sovereign equal. “After careful assessment, we were forced to take this decision,” Mohamud emphasized in a televised address.
The UAE, a major investor in Somali infrastructure and security, has not publicly responded to these developments. However, regional analysts identify Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as the catalyst for the diplomatic rupture. Omar Mahmoud of the International Crisis Group notes that Somalia perceives the UAE as having played a behind-the-scenes role in facilitating this outcome.
Complicating matters further, Somalia has accused the UAE of orchestrating the unauthorized transport of Yemeni separatist leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi through Somali airspace—an allegation the UAE denies. This incident, coupled with growing suspicions about Emirati support for Somaliland’s recognition, appears to have been the final straw in deteriorating relations.
The practical implications remain uncertain. While Somalia’s federal government has annulled the agreements, its authority over semi-autonomous regions like Somaliland, Puntland, and Jubaland—where UAE-operated ports are located—is limited. DP World, the Dubai-based logistics giant operating Berbera port, has indicated business will continue unchanged, citing existing agreements with Somaliland authorities.
Regional experts suggest this confrontation reflects broader geopolitical realignments, with the UAE and Israel on one side and powers like Turkey and Saudi Arabia on the other. Somalia is now leveraging diplomatic channels to rally international support for its position, though repairing relations with the UAE will require significant diplomacy amid eroded trust.