President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Tuesday made a surprise visit to the United Arab Emirates Embassy in Mogadishu where he denied claims of a diplomatic row brewing between him and the Gulf country
“Its all rumours that the Emirates is against my bid for a second term. We still enjoy a good relationship with UAE” He said at the Embassy where he was hosted by deputy Ambassador Hamdan Rashid Alshamsi
President Hassan Sheikh reiterated that the two countries will maintain a brotherly relation
Reports have been making rounds that UAE is backing Prime Minister Omar Sharmake’s presidential candidacy
UAE has this year been seen to play active role in the horn of Africa country as it emerges from the ashes from a 24 year civil war
UAE envoy to Somalia Mohammed Alcutman has been in neighbouring Kenya since the reports of alleged frosty relation between UAE and President Hassan Sheikh started making rounds
Alcutman has had a series of meetings with regional leaders after the Abu Dhabi Conference
Hassan Sheikh is also expectes to open an Emirati funded hospital Sheikh Zair soon
But UAE will not bw the first Gulf country to show interest in Somalia. In 2012 Qatar supported Hassan Sheikh’s candidacy and funded his campaign
