"Somalia has torn up all agreements with the United Arab Emirates after UAE-backed Yemeni separatist leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi illegally entered the Gulf Arab country through the breakaway region of Somaliland, a top minister has said. The move also comes in the wake of Israel's world-first recognition of Somaliland, which has been roundly condemned across Africa and the Arab world and beyond."
"Ali Omar, Somalia's state minister for foreign affairs, told Al Jazeera that the entry of al-Zubaidi, leader of the now-defunct Southern Transitional Council (STC), into Somali territory on January 8 was the last straw that prompted Mogadishu to cancel all deals with Abu Dhabi. The decision, announced by Somalia's Council of Ministers on Monday, annuls agreements spanning port operations, security cooperation and defence."
"Using Somalia's airspace, Somalia's airfields to smuggle a fugitive is not something that Somalia condones, Omar said, describing how al-Zubaidi allegedly travelled on a UAE-registered cargo plane from Berbera port to Mogadishu. He said Somali authorities received the plane's manifest, but al-Zubaidi's name was not listed, suggesting he was hiding aboard. Omar emphasised that while the incident triggered the decision, it reflected deeper frustrations with the UAE's conduct in Somalia."
Somalia canceled all agreements with the United Arab Emirates after Aidarous al-Zubaidi, a UAE-backed Yemeni separatist leader, entered Somali territory via Somaliland on January 8. The cancellations annul deals covering port operations, security cooperation and defence. Somali officials allege al-Zubaidi travelled hidden aboard a UAE-registered cargo plane from Berbera to Mogadishu and was not listed on the manifest. Officials framed the move as reflecting deeper frustration with UAE conduct despite prior diplomatic efforts. The decision exposed sharp federal fractures as regions with strong UAE ties rejected Mogadishu's authority to void the agreements. The move also followed Israel's recognition of Somaliland, worsening regional tensions.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]