President Farmaajo holds talks with UAE envoy to Somalia amid ongoing Gulf Crisis
President Mohamed Farmaajo Wednesday hosted the UAE ambassador to Somalia Mohamed Al Hammadi where the two held bilateral talks amid the ongoing Gulf feud which Somalia has maintained a neutral stance.
Sources from Villa Somalia note the two engaged on a range of issues including UAE’s bilateral support to Somalia. President Farmaajo underscored the role of the Emirati government in contributing towards Somalia’s recovery process.
In response, Ambassador Al Hammadi expressed his appreciation to the Somali leader underscoring UAE’s desire to continue helping Somalia.
Relationship between the two countries
In 2017 following the neutral stand of the Somali federal government on the gulf crisis between Saudi-led coalitions against Qatar, president Farmaajo traveled twice to UAE though no information was made public on the outcomes of these trips.
On the other hand, after the election of president Farmaajo on the 8th February 2017, UAE government signed commercial and military agreements with Puntland and Somaliland.
But UAE’s signing plans to set up a military base in Berbera port in Somaliland raised eyebrows in Mogadishu with Parliament questioning the intentions of the Emirati government terming it a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty.
UAE has also secured 30 year port concessions for Berbera and Bosaso ports in Somaliland and Puntland respectively.
The diplomatic rift in the Gulf Council corporation members between Saudi-led coalition plus Egypt and Qatari government in June 2017 resulted in the ostracization of the latter and imposing land, sea and air embargo on the tiny rich Arab island nation accusing it of supporting “terrorism” while Qatar has repeatedly rejected the allegation.
The siege which still in place has entered its 9th month.
Goobjoog News