New UAE envoy presents credentials to Somaliland president

Ambassador Abdulla Alnaqbi presented his credentials to President Muse Bihi Saturday. Photo: Somaliland Presidency

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: The new UAE representative to Somaliland Ambassador Abdulla Alnaqbi presented his credentials Saturday to President Muse Bihi.

The Office of the President in Somaliland said in a tweet the new envoy handed his credentials to President Muse Bihi in a ceremony at the presidential villa.

The UAE and Somaliland both maintain consulates in their respective territories but the Emirati government does not recognise Somaliland’s statehood.

The UAE has invested millions of dollars in upgrading the Berbera port following a $442 million concession signed in 2017 which sparked a diplomatic fallout between Abu Dhabi and Mogadishu.

The UAE is also building a naval base within the Berbera port. The UN Security Council has however warned against the military investment noting it could be used to circumvent the arms embargo on Somalia which has been in force since 1992.