Puntland Says FGS Declaration on UAE Contracts ‘Has No Legal Effect’

GOOBJOOG NEWS|GAROWE: Puntland has rejected the Federal Government’s claim that it has cancelled port and security agreements involving the United Arab Emirates, calling Mogadishu’s announcement “baseless” and without legal effect.

In an official statement issued Tuesday, the Puntland government said it retains the constitutional authority to “protect, cancel and amend” development and security agreements signed with companies and friendly states operating inside Puntland, citing both Puntland’s constitution and Article 142 of Somalia’s 2012 provisional federal constitution.

“Therefore, the statement issued today by the Council of Ministers of the Federal Government of Somalia claiming that the agreements for the Bosaso Port development project and security cooperation between Puntland and the United Arab Emirates have been cancelled is null and void,” the statement said.

The cabinet announced Monday it was officially terminating all agreements and contracts with the UAE citing sovereinty concerns. This follows reports that the UAE used the ports of Berbera and Mogadishu to transport the head of the Yemeni Southern Transitional Council (STC) Aidarous al-Zubaidi last week from Yemen to Abu Dhabi.

But Puntland has argued that federal cabinet’s decision does not apply to Puntland’s arrangements and cannot override agreements concluded by the Puntland administration within its territory.

In March 2018, DP World’s P&O Ports secured a 30-year concession to manage Bosaso port shortly after it inked a $442 million deal to run the port of Berbera in Somaliand.

Beyond the legal argument, Puntland directly attacked President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, describing him as a leader “whose term is nearing its end” and accusing him of attempting to sow division among Somalis at a time of political and security strain.

Puntland alleged that Mogadishu’s actions are designed to disrupt national efforts to resolve “major destiny issues,” including reaching consensus on a widely accepted election and forming federal institutions through an agreed process.

Puntland suspended cooperation with the Federal Government in 2023 following run-ins with President Mohamud’s administration.