Somalia has formally protested against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for inviting the President of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro, to the World Government Summit in Dubai.
The Somali government views this as a violation of its sovereignty, as it considers Somaliland to be part of its territory, despite Somaliland’s self-declared independence in 1991.
In an interview with VOA Somali, Somalia’s Foreign Minister, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, stated that Mogadishu will not tolerate such actions, which it perceives as interference in its internal affairs.
He also confirmed that the federal government is reassessing its diplomatic ties with the UAE in response to this incident.
This development highlights the ongoing tensions between Somalia and Somaliland, as well as the complexities of regional diplomacy in the Horn of Africa.
The UAE has been a significant player in the region, with investments and partnerships in both Somalia and Somaliland, particularly in ports and infrastructure.
However, this incident could strain relations between Somalia and the UAE, depending on how both parties choose to address the issue.