Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has explained the reasons behind the deterioration of relations between Mogadishu and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), accusing Abu Dhabi of increasingly aligning itself with Somaliland instead of supporting Somalia’s Federal Government.

In an interview with Al Jazeera published on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, Hassan Sheikh said the UAE’s alleged support for Somaliland’s efforts to break away from Somalia had become a major source of disagreement between the two countries, which previously maintained close security and diplomatic ties.

The president said Mogadishu had repeatedly raised its concerns with Emirati authorities and presented evidence to support its position before his government decided to cancel bilateral agreements covering security, defence and port operations.

“They have sided not with the Federal Government, but specifically with Somaliland,” Hassan Sheikh said.

He further accused the UAE of encouraging Somaliland’s secession, saying he did not understand why Abu Dhabi was pursuing such a position despite its longstanding relationship with Somalia.

The allegations mark another development in a diplomatic dispute that escalated in January 2026, when Somalia announced the cancellation of its agreements with the UAE, citing concerns over national sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence.

Why Somalia cancelled agreements with UAE

Hassan Sheikh said the decision to terminate the agreements followed unsuccessful attempts to resolve the disagreements through diplomatic engagement.

According to the president, Somalia had sought to persuade Abu Dhabi to reconsider its approach towards Somaliland but concluded that the UAE was not responding to Mogadishu’s concerns.

“We tried. We presented the evidence and discussed it with them, but unfortunately, they did not listen to us,” he said.

On January 12, 2026, Somalia’s Council of Ministers announced that it had annulled agreements with the UAE, including arrangements involving the ports of Berbera, Bosaso and Kismayo, alongside cooperation agreements covering security and defence.

The decision was presented by Mogadishu as a measure to protect Somalia’s sovereignty and national unity.

The inclusion of the three ports was particularly significant because they are located in areas with different political and administrative arrangements within Somalia.

Berbera is in Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has operated autonomously for decades. Bosaso is in Puntland, while Kismayo is in Jubaland.

The UAE has developed commercial and security relationships in these areas, including through investments in port infrastructure. Dubai-based DP World operates Berbera Port under a long-term concession, making the port an important part of the wider dispute over Emirati involvement in Somalia.