Somalia Cancels All Security, Trade Agreements with UAE

Somalia has announced the termination of all security, defense and commercial agreements with the United Arab Emirates, marking a sharp escalation in diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

In a statement released on Tuesday evening, the Somali government said the decision applies to all agreements signed with the UAE government, its affiliated agencies and entities, as well as arrangements involving regional administrations within the Federal Republic of Somalia.

The cancellation includes all bilateral security and defiance cooperation agreements and extends to joint activities and contracts linked to the ports of Berbera, Bosaso and Kismayo.

Somali authorities said the move followed a comprehensive assessment of recent developments and was taken to safeguard national sovereignty, protect territorial integrity and uphold the country’s constitutional order.

The government cited what it described as strong reports and evidence of hostile actions undermining Somalia’s sovereignty, national unity and political independence. It said such actions violate core principles of sovereignty and non-interference enshrined in the charters of the United Nations, the African Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League, to which Somalia is a signatory.

The statement added that the decision reflects the will of the Somali people, who have expressed opposition to actions seen as threatening the country’s independence and unity.

Somalia’s foreign ministry has been instructed to formally notify the UAE of the decision and coordinate its implementation, while also briefing international and regional partners, including the African Union and the United Nations. The government stressed that the move reaffirms Somalia’s sovereign rights over its territory, ports, security affairs and foreign policy.