Somalia severed all agreements with the United Arab Emirates on Monday, citing the illegal entry of UAE-backed Yemeni separatist leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi into Somali territory. Ali Omar, Somalia's state minister for foreign affairs, told Al Jazeera that al-Zubaidi's arrival on January 8, via the self-declared independent region of Somaliland, triggered the cancellation.
The Somali Council of Ministers' decision marks a significant deterioration in relations between the two countries. Al-Zubaidi is the leader of the now-defunct Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist movement seeking independence for southern Yemen.
Somalia's move follows recent tensions with the UAE, fueled by Abu Dhabi's growing ties with Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but is not internationally recognized. Somalia views Somaliland as part of its territory and considers any direct engagement with the region as a violation of its sovereignty. The UAE has invested in Somaliland, notably in the port of Berbera, a strategic location on the Gulf of Aden.
The incident involving al-Zubaidi is viewed by Mogadishu as the culmination of a series of actions by the UAE that undermine Somalia's territorial integrity. "This was the last straw," Minister Omar stated, referring to al-Zubaidi's entry.
The cancellation of agreements encompasses various sectors, including economic and security cooperation. The specifics of the agreements and their potential impact on the UAE's investments in Somalia remain unclear.
The timing of Somalia's decision is also noteworthy, coinciding with Israel's recent recognition of Somaliland, a move that has drawn widespread condemnation from African and Arab nations. Somalia has strongly denounced Israel's recognition of Somaliland.
The UAE has yet to issue an official response to Somalia's decision. The move is likely to further complicate the already fragile political landscape in the Horn of Africa and could have implications for regional security and stability. Analysts suggest that the diplomatic fallout could lead to a realignment of alliances in the region, with potential consequences for the ongoing conflict in Yemen and the broader Red Sea security environment.
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