Mogadishu — Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said today while addressing the nation, that the government has canceled all agreements with the United Arab Emirates, including economic, security and defense deals, citing repeated violations of national sovereignty and threats to the country’s unity.
In a televised address, the president said the decision was approved by the Council of Ministers on Jan. 12 after prolonged consultations with Abu Dhabi failed to resolve concerns over what Mogadishu described as unofficial engagements that bypassed federal authorities.
“We approached the UAE with good intentions and an open heart, but unfortunately it did not treat Somalia as a united and independent nation,” the president said, adding that the government had repeatedly asked to be respected as a single, sovereign state.
Hassan Sheikh stressed that the move was not aimed at harming Somali citizens and pledged to protect economic stability and livelihoods. Somalia said it remains open to relations based on equality and mutual respect but warned that no agreement would be allowed to compromise territorial integrity or state authority.