Somalia has broken its agreement with the United Arab Emirates after Aidars al-Zubaidi, the leader of the UAE-backed Yemeni separatists, illegally entered the Gulf Arab state through the breakaway region of Somaliland, a senior minister said.
Somalia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Omar told Al Jazeera that the entry of al-Zubaidi, leader of the now-defunct Southern Transitional Council (STC), into Somali territory on January 8 was the “last straw” that prompted Mogadishu to abandon all agreements with Abu Dhabi.
Recommended stories
list of two itemsend of list
The move also comes after Israel became the first country in the world to recognize Somaliland, which has been harshly criticized in Africa, the Arab world and beyond.
The decision, announced by Somalia’s Council of Ministers on Monday, nullifies agreements spanning port operations, security cooperation and defence.
“Using Somali airspace or Somali airfields to smuggle fugitives is not something that Somalia will tolerate,” Omar said, explaining how al-Zubaidi allegedly traveled from Berbera port to Mogadishu on a UAE-registered cargo plane.
He said Somali authorities had received the plane’s manifest, but it did not mention al-Zubaidi’s name, suggesting he was hiding on board.
Omar stressed that while the incident was the trigger for the decision, it reflects a deeper dissatisfaction with the UAE’s actions in Somalia.
“That was one of the reasons we took this action. It wasn’t the reason, but it was one of the reasons,” he said. “We tried to deal with it diplomatically, but now we have decided to take action. Diplomacy didn’t work, so now we need the constitution to work.”
The announcement exposed deep fissures in Somalia’s federal system, which gives member states significant autonomy in their own affairs.
Within hours of the decision, two regions with close trade and security ties to the UAE rejected Mogadishu’s authority to break the deal.
Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but is not internationally recognized and also has close ties with Abu Dhabi, has rejected this.
The minister said Somalia had exhausted diplomatic channels before taking action.
“We were hoping that the situation would change, but it has not changed,” Omar told Al Jazeera, adding that the country is “again asserting its sovereignty and asking its people to respect it.”
He drew parallels between the situation in Somalia and the conflict in Yemen and praised Saudi efforts to stabilize the country, noting that “stability in Yemen leads to stability in Somalia and vice versa.”
The decision is driven by a broader concentration of regional interests with Riyadh, following Saudi Arabia’s move to oust the UAE-backed STC from Yemen and a tougher stance towards Abu Dhabi.
Somalia’s Information Minister Daoud Aweis insisted in an interview with Al Jazeera that the decision was not made under Saudi pressure.
The UAE has not commented on the allegations or Somalia’s decision to abandon the agreement.
Somalia’s move comes amid anger in Mogadishu over what authorities see as significant influence by the UAE through major infrastructure investments in breakaway and autonomous regions.
Emirati investments in East Africa total about $47 billion, accounting for more than half of the Gulf capital flowing into the region, according to the African Center for Strategic Studies, a Washington-based research institute.
“There was a time when Somalia accepted any aid it could get, regardless of its background. But that created challenges,” Omar said.
“Today we have an established system of government that should be respected,” he added.
“Somalia is seeking to regain its sovereignty and is calling on the international community and other partners to address the situation state-to-state rather than state-versus-non-state actors.”
Israel’s recognition raises tensions
The breakdown in relations also follows Israel’s recognition of Somaliland in December, a move that many Somalis believe was facilitated by the UAE. The UAE has not commented on the allegations.
In December, the UAE refused to sign the Arab-Islamic Joint Statement condemning Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, but on January 7 it issued a joint statement with the African Union pledging to “support Somalia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and stability.”
Omar expressed confidence that other countries would not follow Israel’s lead, citing diplomatic outreach and concerns for the continent.
“I don’t think so. And I hope that doesn’t happen. I think we’ve done enough diplomatic outreach around the world.”
Dozens of countries and international organizations have condemned the move, and President Trump has said he will not abide by Israel’s decision, but added that the issue is under consideration.
He warned that other countries share challenges with separatist movements and that separatist movements could open a “Pandora’s Box”.
“I don’t think the world is ready for such action,” he said.
Omar also pointed to divisions within Somaliland over the question of whether an independent state in the north is the right choice.
Somaliland, which declared independence in 1991, is one of Somalia’s most stable regions, with its own currency, flag, central bank, and distinct political identity.
After announcing the recognition of Israel in December, Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, also known as Chiro, said that the existence of an independent state does not mean that the cultural, ethnic and religious ties of the Somali people are severed.
Minister Omar of Somalia explained that the region is made up of five major clans, and that two in the east have already separated from Somaliland to form the northeastern state, while similar forces are emerging in the west.
“There is not enough momentum for separatism,” he said.
The minister warned that reports about a possible Israeli military base in Somaliland pose broader regional security risks.
“There is enough turmoil, enough problems, and enough insecurity in the region. Bringing Israel into the region will only create further challenges,” he said, warning that such a presence would draw armed fighters to areas where Islamic State (ISIS) and al-Shabab are already active.
“This will only destabilize an already stable region of Somalia.”
