Bahrain FM accuses Somalia of ‘denial and abuse’ over money seizure
Bahrain Foreign Minister Khalid bin Al Khalifa has weighed in on the latest diplomatic tussle between Somalia and UAE over millions of money seized in Mogadishu accusing Somalia of ‘ungratefulness’ and gravitating into the ‘arms of the enemy’.
The Minister tweeted Tuesday evening in the wake of war of words between Mogadishu and Abu Dhabi joining the UAE State minister of foreign affairs Anwar Gargash in filing protest over the seizure of $9.6 million by authorities at Aden Adde airport in Mogadishu Sunday.
“The United Arab Emirates has set up several conferences to support Somalia, in the presence of the Somali president,” the minister said. “She stood with Somalia against the pirates and made every duty and provided all the support with money, arms and medicine.”
Somalia, the minister added, “Responded only with denial, abuse and belonging in the arms of the enemies of the nation.”
EXCESSES
Gargash had also through a tweet protested what he termed as ‘several excesses’ by Somali government.
“The current Somali government, through several excesses of previous and well-established arrangements and understandings with the United Arab Emirates, creates unnecessary congestion with a friend and an ally with a halt to the stability and security of Somalia in the darkest conditions, we call for wisdom and reason.”
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Gargash was further quoted by Reuters terming the seizure of the money as a result of ‘internal Somali dynamics.
“The money came in for our usual payments to various security and other commitments that we have in Somalia,” he told Reuters on Tuesday. “Unfortunately, we are seeing some internal Somali dynamics that are trying to present it otherwise and I think it will be clear in the coming few days.”
But Somalia has maintained it would keep the money until investigations are concluded
“The seized money is worth $9.6m. Security agencies are currently investigating where the money came from, where it was going, the individuals involved and the reason for bringing money worth this amount into the country,” Somalia’s interior ministry said in a statement late on Sunday.