Tuesday May 5, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali government has denied reports claiming it expelled the United Arab Emirates ambassador, dismissing the allegations as false and misleading.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said it was concerned about the circulation of the baseless claims across some media outlets and social media platforms.
The ministry did not provide further details about the origin of the reports but emphasized that no decision had been taken to expel the UAE envoy.
Earlier in January, Somalia announced the suspension of several agreements with the United Arab Emirates, including those related to port management, security cooperation, and defense. The decision followed a cabinet meeting and was based on what officials described as actions that undermined Somalia’s unity and sovereignty.
At the time, Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi said the move was based on credible evidence of practices linked to the UAE that affected Somalia’s independence and political stability.
Despite the suspension of agreements, the Somali government maintained that diplomatic relations had not been severed and that both countries’ embassies would continue to operate normally.
