Somalia announced the cancellation of all agreements with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday, citing concerns over actions that it said undermined its national sovereignty and territorial unity. The move comes amid rising tensions over Israel’s recognition of Somaliland and reports of Emirati involvement in the escape of a Yemeni separatist leader.
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“Having carefully assessed recent developments and exercising its constitutional authority, the Council of Ministers has annulled all agreements concluded with the United Arab Emirates… including bilateral security and defence cooperation agreements,” the Somali government said in a statement.
BREAKING: The #Somali Cabinet has cancelled all agreements with the UAE, including port, security, and defense deals linked to Berbera, Bosaso, and Kismayo, citing violations of Somalia’s sovereignty, unity, and constitutional order. pic.twitter.com/umRfWR4KR0
— SONNA (@SONNALIVE) January 12, 2026
Relations between Somalia and the UAE have been strained for months. The UAE, which operates a large deep-water port and military base at Berbera in Somaliland, is seen as supporting Israel’s recognition of the self-declared republic. Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has not been internationally recognized.
Tensions escalated further last week when Saudi Arabia accused the UAE of assisting Yemeni separatist leader Aidarous Al Zubaidi to flee via Somali territory, including Berbera port and Mogadishu airport, to Abu Dhabi. Somalia’s immigration authorities said they were investigating “alleged unauthorised use of Somalia’s national airspace and airports.”
While the Somali government did not explicitly mention Israel’s recognition of Somaliland or Zubaidi’s escape in its statement, it described the decision as “based on credible reports and compelling evidence concerning hostile actions undermining national sovereignty, territorial unity, and the political independence of the country.”
“The decision of the cabinet today comes after a long period of endurance by the leadership of the federal government,” the statement added, signaling a firm stance against what it views as hostile foreign interference.
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The cancellation affects security, defence, and other bilateral agreements, marking a significant escalation in the diplomatic rift between Somalia and the UAE.