MOGADISHU — The Federal Government of Somalia has consented to permit the United Arab Emirates to repatriate its remaining staff and military hardware from Mogadishu without inspection, following diplomatic intervention by Ethiopia.
Under the terms of the arrangement, four Ethiopian government aircraft were authorized to facilitate the withdrawal. Two of the planes were designated to transport Emirati embassy staff and foreign workers, while the remaining aircraft were tasked with airlifting military weapons and equipment.
The decision marks a reversal from Mogadishu’s initial position. On Wednesday, the Federal Government had rejected a request for Ethiopian aircraft to remove Emirati military assets after Abu Dhabi demanded direct withdrawal procedures bypassing standard search protocols. However, following high-level discussions with Ethiopian officials, Somali authorities acceded to the UAE’s conditions, granting clearance for the aircraft to operate directly from Terminal 23 at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport.
The first flight carrying UAE military equipment departed Mogadishu on Thursday afternoon, with a second flight anticipated to follow shortly.
The withdrawal occurs just days after the Federal Government terminated all bilateral agreements with the United Arab Emirates. The cancellation encompassed contracts related to the management of the strategic ports of Bosaso, Berbera, and Kismayo, as well as all defense and security cooperation arrangements between the two nations.
