By Mohamed Qaal - Reporter
Somalia, 13 January 2026 – Somalia’s North East State on Tuesday expressed full support for the Federal Government’s decision to annul all agreements with the United Arab Emirates, reinforcing Mogadishu’s authority over national ports and strategic assets amid escalating tensions with Somaliland.
In a statement, the Northeastern State described Somalia as “one sovereign, united, and indivisible” and reaffirmed that all Somali territories, including Somaliland's port of Berbera, fall under federal jurisdiction. The statement warned that no regional administration has legal authority to engage with foreign governments or conclude international agreements without federal approval.
“Attempts to bypass this authority are illegitimate, destabilizing, and contrary to Somalia's constitutional order and federal system,” the Northeastern State said.
The announcement comes after Somaliland, a self-declared breakaway region, reiterated its commitment to partnerships with the UAE, dismissing Somalia’s cancellation of bilateral agreements as “legally invalid and politically irrelevant.”
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The dispute escalated Monday when the Somali federal cabinet announced the annulment of all agreements with the UAE, including security, defence, and port arrangements covering Berbera, Bosaso, and Kismayo. The federal government said the decision aimed to safeguard Somalia’s sovereignty, unity, and constitutional order, citing evidence of actions undermining the country’s independence and territorial integrity.
The North East State said such claims are “constitutionally unfounded, legally null, and without validity under Somali, regional, or international law.” It called on the international community to respect Somalia’s sovereignty and engage exclusively with the Federal Government on matters of national competence.
The Federal Member States of Jubaland and Puntland have also dismissed the annulment as invalid insisting the regional governments' right to engage with UAE.
