By Mohamed Abdi - Reporter
Somalia, 15 January 2026 Somalia and the United Arab Emirates held formal coordination talks on January 14 to discuss the immediate and timely withdrawal of Emirati military personnel and assets from Somali territory, including Mogadishu, while evacuation arrangements related to the UAE facility in Bosaso remain unresolved, Dawan Africa learned.
The meetings brought together a federal government committee and the UAE Ambassador in Mogadishu, followed by separate discussions with UAE military commanders stationed in the capital.
Official government sources revealed to Dawan Africa, on condition of anonymity, that the talks focused on managing an orderly and coordinated withdrawal process, while ensuring full compliance with Somalia’s national aviation and airspace regulations, including standard procedures governing passenger and cargo movements.
According to the same sources, UAE officials confirmed to the government committee during the discussions that they have no military presence in Kismayo and that the Emirati military facility in Berbera has been fully evacuated. However, no specific timeline was agreed upon regarding the withdrawal of personnel and equipment from the UAE facility in Bosaso.
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According to the government sources, UAE military commanders in Mogadishu indicated that they are ready to begin the evacuation process once authorization is granted for additional cargo flights to transport equipment and supplies.
Dawan Africa also learned that the UAE military base camp in Mogadishu will be formally handed over to the federal government after the withdrawal is fully completed and all agreed technical and security procedures are finalized.
The talks come amid a diplomatic rift between the Somali government and the United Arab Emirates, against the backdrop of what Mogadishu describes as hostile actions by the UAE targeting Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity—moves that prompted the Somali government to terminate all bilateral agreements with the United Arab Emirates, including those covering security, economic cooperation, and port management.
