“UAE Disrespected Somalia’s Sovereignty,” President Mohamud Says as Mogadishu Cancels All Agreements with Abu Dhabi

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has accused the United Arab Emirates of failing to treat Somalia as a sovereign state, saying Abu Dhabi took actions that undermined Somalia’s unity, independence and territorial integrity.

Speaking at a press conference on the country’s general situation, the president said Somalia had maintained “good diplomatic relations” with the UAE, but argued that the relationship deteriorated after what he described as repeated actions carried out without the knowledge of the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS).

“The UAE did not behave like a fellow sovereign state, and it did not respect Somalia’s borders and the decisions of the Somali government,” President Hassan Sheikh said, adding that several steps taken by the UAE were, in his view, in direct contradiction to international law and the principles guiding relations between independent states.

Somalia’s cabinet announced on Monday that it had scrapped the agreements, in a decision the government said was aimed at safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial unity

The president said the cancellation of the agreements was driven by national interest, insisting it was meant to protect Somalia’s political sovereignty and territorial unity and not to target Emirati citizens or Somalia’s broader international partnerships.

He also said the federal government remains open to rebuilding ties on the basis of mutual respect, cooperation and good neighbourliness, but warned that Somalia would not accept interference in its internal affairs.

In a separate address to the Somali public, President Hassan Sheikh doubled down on his message that defending the country’s unity is a national duty and should not be reserved for any group or individual.

“No one can be exempted from the defence of Somalia’s unity,” he said, praising what he described as patriotic spirit and solidarity shown by Somalis following the cabinet’s decision to annul the UAE agreements.

The president urged citizens to support national-building efforts and peacebuilding, saying the government carries a major responsibility to safeguard matters that affect people’s lives and interests.