Despite Mogadishu’s efforts to disrupt the relationship, Somalia’s term-expired President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has acknowledged that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) maintains direct diplomatic and security cooperation with the Republic of Somaliland.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Hassan Sheikh said the UAE treats Somaliland as an independent entity, maintaining separate diplomatic and security channels with Hargeisa. He admitted that his administration had attempted to close these channels but failed to prevent the UAE from continuing its direct engagement with Somaliland.
The Somalian president indicated that the UAE’s continued relations with Somaliland had caused considerable frustration in Mogadishu, contributing to his government’s decision to unilaterally terminate bilateral defence and security agreements with the UAE.
The remarks highlight the diplomatic differences between Mogadishu and Abu Dhabi over Somaliland’s international relations, particularly the UAE’s longstanding economic, security and strategic engagement with Hargeisa.
A major pillar of the UAE’s partnership with Somaliland is its investment in the expansion and modernisation of the Port of Berbera. Through DP World, the UAE has committed approximately $440 million to develop the port into a major deep-water maritime terminal and regional trade hub.
The Berbera port project is intended to strengthen Somaliland’s position as a strategic gateway to the Horn of Africa, expanding regional trade, improving maritime connectivity and providing landlocked Ethiopia with an alternative route to international markets.
The UAE’s engagement with Somaliland has also drawn wider regional attention because of the nation’s strategic location along the Gulf of Aden, close to one of the world’s most important maritime shipping corridors connecting the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean.
Hassan Sheikh’s comments underscore the continuing diplomatic tensions between Mogadishu and Abu Dhabi over the UAE’s direct engagement with Somaliland, as Hargeisa continues to pursue international recognition and expand its bilateral partnerships.