By Asho Elmi - Reporter
Somalia, 13 January 2026 — Jubaland on Tuesday rejected a decision issued by the Federal Government of Somalia terminating all bilateral agreements with the United Arab Emirates.
Jubaland said in a press release that the move violates the Jubaland Constitution and provisions of Somalia’s Provisional Federal Constitution governing international agreements and regional authority.
In a strongly worded statement, the Jubaland presidency declared the federal decision “null and void,” citing what it described as the state’s constitutional right to enter into commercial and investment contracts, particularly those related to the Port of Kismayo.
“The Government of Jubaland considers today’s decision issued by the Federal Government to be null and void,” the statement said, referring to Article 87 of the Jubaland Constitution, which the regional administration says grants it authority over infrastructure development and foreign investment.
The statement followed the Federal Government’s decision to formally cancel all agreements with the United Arab Emirates, including those related to port management and security cooperation affecting Kismayo.
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Jubaland officials accused federal authorities of “failing in their responsibility to preserve national unity” and of using such decrees to divert public attention from what they described as shortcomings in national security management and the electoral transition.
The administration argued that under Somalia’s Provisional Federal Constitution, federal member states must be consulted on international agreements that directly affect them.
“Jubaland alone has the right to amend or terminate these agreements,” the statement added, insisting that all existing development and security agreements will remain in force.
Earlier, the breakaway region of Somaliland and the Puntland administration also rejected the Federal Government’s decision to terminate all bilateral agreements with the United Arab Emirates, citing what Mogadishu described as strong evidence of hostile actions undermining Somalia’s independence, territorial integrity, and political sovereignty.