Somalia Severs Ties with UAE

13 Jan 2026 — 2 min read

Somalia Brief

Jan 12, 2026 — Cabinet annuls UAE agreements; security, diplomacy, and humanitarian updates

Cabinet annuls all agreements with the United Arab Emirates. The Council of Ministers issued a decision on Jan 12 that it has annulled every agreement concluded with the UAE — including deals involving federal institutions, federal member states, and arrangements related to the ports of Berbera, Bosaso, and Kismayo — and revoked existing bilateral security and defence cooperation agreements.Why it matters: The move directly affects Somalia’s external relations and control over key port arrangements; the government says the decision follows reports of actions judged harmful to Somalia’s independence and unity.Source: Somali Cabinet Annuls All Agreements with the United Arab Emirates (SONNA)

Parliament approves Tobacco Control Framework. The House of the People voted 139–0 (three abstained) to adopt the new tobacco control measure to strengthen public health policy. (SONNA)
Somali civil society leader joins regional election observers. Osman Moallim Shatah is part of the IGAD mission and will coordinate with AU and COMESA observers ahead of Uganda’s Jan 15 elections. (SONNA)

Somalia and China reaffirm strategic partnership by phone. Foreign Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali and China’s Wang Yi agreed to deepen political trust, cooperation, and mutual support on core national interests; both reiterated positions on Somaliland and the one-China principle. (SONNA)
Foreign minister holds virtual talks with South Korea. Abdisalam Abdi Ali and Korea’s Cho Hyun discussed bilateral cooperation and regional issues, with Korea reaffirming respect for Somalia’s sovereignty. (SONNA)

Somali National Army uncovers large Al-Shabaab weapons caches. Troops found arms, ammunition, military gear, buried uniforms and water containers in the Jilib Marka area during operations tied to the “Silent Storm” campaign in Lower Shabelle. (SONNA)

Finance minister chairs Financial Governance Committee meeting. Minister Bihi Iman Egeh led a monthly FGC review of fiscal progress, reforms, revenue mobilisation and a transparency framework to improve public financial management. (SONNA)
Ministry of Public Works and UN-Habitat hold talks on urban planning and IDP solutions. Officials discussed World Urban Forum 13 preparations, housing projects for displaced people in Bosaso and Baidoa, and amendments to cooperation agreements. (SONNA)

Disaster Management delegation arrives in Kismayo to assess drought. SoDMA Commissioner Mahmoud Moallim Abdulle and UN coordination officials will tour IDP camps to evaluate drought impacts and humanitarian needs. (SONNA)
Interior Ministry holds virtual talks with IOM on post-liberation support. The meeting focused on stabilisation and early recovery for newly liberated communities. (SONNA)

Teams from SoDMA and UN officials are set to visit multiple IDP camps around Kismayo to directly assess living conditions and drought impacts. (SONNA)
UN-Habitat reported active construction of housing for displaced people in Bosaso and Baidoa as part of ongoing urban and IDP-focused projects. (SONNA)
Local community forces are working with the Somali National Army to identify former militant hideouts and support operations in Lower Shabelle. (SONNA)

Follow official steps and international responses after the Cabinet’s annulment of all UAE agreements — look for implementation directives or legal follow-up from the Federal Government. (SONNA)
Updates from the “Silent Storm” operations in Lower Shabelle: further recoveries, civilian impact assessments, and security consolidation. (SONNA)
Results and observer findings from the Jan 15 Uganda elections, including reports from the IGAD/AU mission that includes Somali civil society representation. (SONNA)
Outcomes of the SoDMA assessment in Kismayo: humanitarian needs estimates and any escalation of response or appeals. (SONNA)

Sources: Somali National News Agency (SONNA)

Compiled from public reporting; links above.