The Federal Government of Somalia has formally nullified and revoked all existing agreements with the Government of the United Arab Emirates, including those related to ports, security, and defence cooperation, in a sweeping decision adopted by the Council of Ministers on January 12, 2026.
In the decision issued in Mogadishu, on Monday, the Cabinet said the move was taken in exercise of its constitutional mandate to safeguard Somalia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and constitutional order.
The revocation applies to all agreements involving federal institutions, affiliated entities, and Federal Member States, specifically including operational arrangements at the ports of Berbera, Bosaso, and Kismayo.
According to the Cabinet, all bilateral agreements with the UAE—most notably those on security and defence cooperation—have been cancelled with immediate effect.
The government said the decision followed an assessment of what it described as “hostile and destabilizing actions intended to undermine the sovereignty of Somalia, the unity of the nation, and the political independence of the country.”
“These actions constitute a violation of the principles of sovereignty, non-interference, and respect for the constitutional order of the nation,” the Council of Ministers stated in the document.
It added that such conduct contravenes international norms enshrined in the charters of the United Nations, the African Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the League of Arab States, to which Somalia is a signatory.
The Cabinet further argued that the revoked arrangements ran counter to the will of the Somali people, saying citizens had clearly demonstrated their rejection of malicious acts aimed at undermining the independence and cohesion of the country.
As part of the implementation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been instructed to formally communicate the decision to the UAE government and to coordinate its enforcement.
The ministry is also required to notify Somalia’s international and regional partners, including the African Union and the United Nations, while reaffirming Somalia’s sovereign rights.
Through the decision, the Federal Government reaffirmed its constitutional authority over national territory, ports, national security, and foreign relations.
“The Federal Republic of Somalia reaffirms its sovereign responsibility and constitutional authority over matters relating to its territory, ports, national security, and foreign relations,” the Cabinet said.
Despite the decisive action, the government emphasized that it remains open to international engagement.
It said Somalia welcomes cooperation that is founded on mutual respect, recognition of Somalia as one sovereign and unified State, and adherence to constitutional and international norms and principles.
The Cabinet concluded that the decision was adopted “in accordance with the supreme national interest of the Federal Republic of Somalia,” underscoring the government’s position that safeguarding sovereignty and unity remains paramount.
