Hargeisa (KAAB TV) – The United Arab Emirates and Somaliland are strengthening cooperation in the field of military and security, as the Gulf government continues to expand its influence in the Horn of Africa, and this move could worsen the relationship between the Federal Government of Somalia and Abu Dhabi.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Somaliland Military, Major General Nim’an Yusuf Osman, met with Lt. Gen. Eisa Saif Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Commander-in-Chief of the United Arab Emirates Military, and the meeting focused on defense cooperation, military modernization and security support.
According to a press release issued by the Somaliland military, they discussed the support of the United Arab Emirates in the fields of training, military technology, and logistics to strengthen Somaliland’s defense capabilities. This meeting coincided with Osman’s participation in the international defense exhibition in Abu Dhabi until February 23.
With regard to the routes of the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, Abu Dhabi has been interested in expanding its military power in Berbera, which will enable it to project its power deeper in East Africa, and prevent rival groups such as Turkey, which supports Mogadishu. According to reports, the UAE wants to establish a military base in the region, in order to further strengthen its foothold in East Africa.
On the part of Somaliland, the strengthening of military relations with the United Arab Emirates is about security and how to gain international recognition. Since Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia in 1991, Somaliland has been looking for foreign cooperation to strengthen its government.
The President of Somaliland Abd Rahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro has also made two official trips to the United Arab Emirates last month, which reflects the diplomatic and security relations between Hargeisa and Abu Dhabi. His last visit saw him attend a world government summit, where regional security and governance issues were key topics.
The federal government of Somalia has repeatedly rejected the agreements entered into by foreign forces with Somaliland, saying that these agreements are detrimental to the territorial unity of Somalia.
The UAE’s military and economic influence in Somaliland has been controversial since 2017 when the Dubai-based DP World signed an agreement to develop Berbera Port with Ethiopia. The Somali Parliament described the agreement as illegal, declaring that all foreign investments should be negotiated in Mogadishu.
The crisis reached its peak in 2018 when the Somali authorities in Mogadishu seized $9.6 million worth of money from a plane belonging to the United Arab Emirates, accusing Abu Dhabi of funding regional militias. In response, the UAE has ended the military training program it was providing to the Somali national forces, focusing on security cooperation between Somaliland and Puntland.
The UAE’s growing role in Somaliland coincides with Ethiopia’s controversial agreement with Hargeisa, which includes allowing the Ethiopian navy access to Berbera. The deal sparked a diplomatic crisis between Somalia and Ethiopia, further straining the regional alliance.