Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdisalan Abdi Ali (Dhaay), has confirmed that the UAE government has suspended its security support to Somalia, following the federal government’s formal withdrawal from the agreements between the two countries.
The minister clarified that the UAE’s support was limited to the military and security agencies. “Most of the support the UAE government provided was limited to the military. Since the agreements were withdrawn, there is no apparent reason for that support to continue,” he said.
However, Minister Abdisalan Dhaay noted that despite the suspension of security support, diplomatic relations between the two countries have not been severed. He pointed out that the two embassies in Mogadishu and Dubai are operating normally, indicating that the overall relationship between the two governments is still intact.
The minister also said that the decision was not related to allegations against the UAE regarding its alleged interference in Sudan and Yemen, where it is accused of supporting armed groups fighting against those countries.
In January, the Federal Government of Somalia officially terminated all agreements it had with the UAE, including those related to security cooperation, accusing the UAE of interfering in matters that undermine the country’s sovereignty and unity.
