The Federal Government of Somalia has formally annulled all agreements and cooperative arrangements with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), citing actions it says undermine the country’s sovereignty, unity and constitutional order.
In a statement issued on Monday, January 12, 2026, the Council of Ministers of the Federal Republic of Somalia said the decision applies to all agreements concluded with the UAE, including those involving federal institutions, affiliated entities and federal member states operating within Somalia. The annulment covers deals related to port operations in Berbera, Bosaso and Kismayo, as well as all bilateral security and defence cooperation agreements between the two governments.
The cabinet said the move followed a “careful assessment” of recent developments and was based on what it described as credible reports and compelling evidence of actions harmful to Somalia’s independence, national unity and political sovereignty. It stressed that such actions violate core principles of sovereignty and non-interference enshrined in international and regional frameworks, including the United Nations Charter, the African Union Constitutive Act, the Charter of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League Charter.
Somalia’s Defence Minister, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, said the decision was grounded in “reliable reports and evidence” pointing to practices linked to the UAE that undermine Somalia’s sovereignty and political independence. There was no immediate official response from Abu Dhabi.
The decision escalates a long-running dispute between Mogadishu and Abu Dhabi over the UAE’s direct engagement with Somalia’s regional authorities. Federal officials argue that, under Somalia’s provisional constitution, foreign relations and international agreements fall exclusively under the authority of the federal government. They have repeatedly objected to agreements the UAE has signed with regional administrations without federal approval.
The move also comes amid heightened tensions following Israel’s recognition in December of Somaliland, a self-declared independent region that Somalia considers part of its territory. While the UAE has publicly pledged support for Somalia’s sovereignty in a joint statement with the African Union earlier this month, it declined to sign a separate Arab-Islamic declaration condemning Israel’s decision, a stance that has fueled suspicion in Mogadishu.
The UAE has been a major economic and security partner in parts of Somalia for more than a decade, particularly in Somaliland, where it has backed large-scale infrastructure projects, including the expansion of the Berbera port managed by DP World. It has also supported port development and maritime security initiatives in Puntland and maintained security ties in Jubaland.
Somalia’s federal government said the annulment reflects the will of the Somali people to defend the country’s unity, independence and constitutional foundations. It reiterated its commitment to safeguarding national sovereignty and called on international partners to respect Somalia’s territorial integrity and constitutional order.
Officials acknowledged, however, that enforcing the decision may prove challenging in regions where Emirati-backed projects and agreements are already in place, underscoring ongoing tensions within Somalia’s federal system as the country navigates questions of authority, foreign engagement and national cohesion.
