In a significant development reflecting escalating diplomatic tensions in the Horn of Africa, the Somali Federal Government announced on Monday its decision to cancel all agreements signed with the United Arab Emirates. This decision was based on what the government described as “hostile actions that undermine national sovereignty,” placing relations between the two countries at a new historical juncture.
According to an official statement issued by the Somali Cabinet and received by international news agencies, this measure came “after a thorough and comprehensive assessment of recent developments” on the political and security front. The statement affirmed that the Cabinet, in exercising its constitutional powers to protect the country’s supreme interests, decided to cancel all memoranda of understanding and bilateral agreements, including those related to security and defense cooperation, that were in force between Mogadishu and Abu Dhabi.
Dimensions of the decision and its political background
This decision comes at a sensitive time for the Horn of Africa, as Somalia strives to regain its political stability and fully assert its authority over its territory after decades of instability. Observers note that the Somali move reflects Mogadishu's desire to reshape its foreign relations on the basis of equality and mutual respect, and to reject any form of interference that could be interpreted as an infringement on national sovereignty or a circumvention of the central federal government.
Historically, relations between the two countries have experienced periods of ebb and flow, but recent developments have prompted the Somali government to take a more stringent stance towards agreements that it believes no longer serve the supreme national interest, or that are being exploited in ways that conflict with the unity of Somali territory.
Somali President: Our territorial integrity is non-negotiable
In a related context, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud emphasized that the federal government will spare no diplomatic or legal effort to counter any foreign interference that threatens the country's unity. In an address to the Somali people, the president affirmed that "Somalia's territorial integrity is a red line and non-negotiable," noting that the government is working closely with its international allies and UN organizations to ensure respect for international laws that criminalize any infringement upon the sovereignty of independent states.
The President explained that his country faces external challenges that require internal solidarity, while emphasizing the government’s openness to internal dialogue and listening to the concerns of all Somali regions and components, including the northern regions, but within the framework of a single, unified state, and rejecting any attempts to legitimize secession with external support.
Potential regional repercussions
This decision is expected to have a significant impact on the geopolitical landscape of East Africa, where numerous regional and international powers are vying for influence in this strategic region overlooking the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Experts assert that Somalia's insistence on canceling the security agreements sends a strong message to the international community that Mogadishu is determined to reclaim its independent sovereignty, free from the influence of regional power blocs.
