Dubai-based ports operator DP World said on Tuesday that its operations at the Port of Berbera are continuing normally, despite Somalia’s federal government announcing the cancellation of all agreements with the United Arab Emirates, including port, defence and security deals.
In a statement, DP World said it remains bound by its existing agreements with Somaliland, the self-declared republic that Somalia considers part of its territory. The company declined to comment on political or diplomatic issues, saying such matters should be addressed by the relevant authorities.
“DP World remains focused on the safe and efficient operation of the port, and on delivering trade facilitation and economic benefits for Somaliland and the wider Horn of Africa region,” the company said.
Somalia’s federal government announced on Monday that it was annulling all agreements with the UAE, accusing Abu Dhabi of undermining Somalia’s sovereignty by engaging directly with regional administrations rather than the federal government in Mogadishu. The decision followed investigations launched by Somali authorities into the reported transit of Yemeni separatist leader Aidarus al-Zubaidi through Somalia, amid heightened regional tensions.
The dispute highlights the UAE’s growing economic footprint in Somaliland, centred on DP World’s long-term concession at Berbera Port. Under a 30-year agreement signed in 2016, DP World committed up to $442 million in phased investments to upgrade and operate the port, holding a controlling stake alongside the Somaliland government.
Berbera Port has become a key economic asset for Somaliland. According to estimates by British International Investment, the port could facilitate trade equivalent to nearly 27% of Somaliland’s gross domestic product and 75% of its total trade by 2035, while indirectly supporting tens of thousands of jobs.
Somalia continues to reject agreements signed independently by Somaliland, insisting that all foreign investments must be approved by the federal government. For investors and regional partners, the standoff leaves one of the Horn of Africa’s most strategic ports operating amid an unresolved sovereignty dispute.
