Investigation… UAE conspires to divide Somalia
The United Arab Emirates is plotting to divide Somalia supporting the rebellious Somaliland region as part of its subversive and suspicious policies in the Horn of Africa.
The territory of Somaliland is not recognized internationally, at all levels. However, the United Arab Emirates has struck this unanimous consensus, and has forged strong ties with the region to support the fragmentation of an Arab country with the greatest need for support.
Somaliland is an autonomous region, located in the Horn of Africa on the shore of the Gulf of Aden, specifically in northern Somalia. It is based in Hergisa as its capital, while Berbera is its most important city.
Somaliland is bordered to the south and west by Ethiopia, by Djibouti to the north-west and the Gulf of Aden to the north, while the Puntland region of the Somali federal government is bordered.
Somaliland declared its unilateral separation from the central government in Mogadishu after the 1991 overthrow of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre following a bitter conflict that killed tens of thousands and destroyed many cities.
The area of the separatist region is 137,600 square kilometers, with an estimated population of 3.5 million people according to the 2008 census, while Moussa Abdi has been president since November 2017, succeeding Ahmed Silanyo.
In March 2018, Abdi revealed that the UAE would train security forces in the region as part of an agreement between the two parties to establish an Emirati military base, claiming that it will ensure security and economic development in the country, as well as deterring what it called “militant groups in the region.”
Abu Dhabi began the military base construction in 2017, on a site at the airport in the city of Berbera, with an agreement with the territorial government allowing the stay of Emiratis 30 years.
The importance of the military base is that it is located less than 300 kilometers south of Yemen.
In October 2018, through DP World, the UAE launched a US $ 101 million expansion of Berbera out of 442 million, the total value of the expansion agreement, through which camels are exported to the Middle East and imported Food and other goods.
The central government in the capital Mogadishu refuses to recognize those agreements between Abu Dhabi and “Somaliland”, stressing that this is a violation of the legitimate authority, recognized in all corridors of the United Nations and a violation of its sovereignty.
Abu Dhabi strived to subdue the government of Mogadishu, and spent the money lavishly to achieve its goal, but the latter broke its tusks and turned back the chaos; when it confiscated in April 2018, millions of dollars seized in the possession of UAE Ambassador to Somalia Mohamed Ahmed Osman, where she was in They made their way to the UAE-trained security forces and expelled the trainers.
An international report in October 2018 also revealed a meeting between UAE diplomats and a former senior official of the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency in a restaurant in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, a day before the confiscation of UAE money, revealing the UAE’s hidden moves to buy Somali military receivables as part of its control and influence plans.
The United Arab Emirates, facing anger and popular rejection in the entire Arab world over the policies of its rulers and blatant interference in the affairs of other countries, has drawn up a plan to acquire the Horn of Africa: Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Eritrea.
It also strives to extend its influence over the area around the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which is clearly demonstrated by its movements in Yemen and its quest to control strategic seaports and ports.
Somalia or even “Somaliland” was not the preferred option for the Emiratis; they had signed agreements with Djibouti in 2006, granting them privileges to run the port of Doraleh for 50 years.
Over the past years, the government of Djibouti has tried to amend the agreement, objecting to several provisions, such as the UAE port administration and the right to build other ports. In February 2018, Djibouti terminated the contract for “incompatibility with the fundamental interests of the state.”
With its withdrawal from Djibouti and its failure to bring the central government of Somalia and Qatar back to its obedience, the UAE has only found Somaliland to establish a foothold by establishing a military base there to maintain its presence in the Gulf of Aden.
The African Peace and Security Council recently condemned what it said were external interventions in Somalia that would undermine peace efforts and achievements.
The statement also condemned the so-called funders and supporters of the activities of Al-Shabaab Militant group, and reiterated its solidarity with the federal government and the Somali people.
The statement was issued following visits by UAE officials to Somaliland in an effort to deal with the region, away from the Somali federal government.
Mogadishu pointed out that any agreements with the regions canceled, unless signed with the Somali federal government, has criticized Mogadishu agreement between the territory of Somaliland and the UAE on the use of the port of Berbera on the Red Sea.
The African Union Commission has previously expressed concern about the increasing external interference by non-African parties in the internal affairs of Somalia.
The European Parliament explicitly called on the UAE to stop any action that would threaten stability in Somalia and to respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Tensions escalated between Somalia and the UAE in March 2018, when Somalia objected to a port agreement between the UAE and the breakaway Somaliland. Somalia said the UAE had undermined its sovereignty by skipping direct negotiations with the central government.
