Mogadishu, Somalia – Somalia’s former intelligence chief, Fahad Yasin, has accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of exerting undue influence over the Horn of Africa nation, urging President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to curb the Gulf state’s interference in Somali affairs.
In an interview with Risaala TV, Yasin expressed alarm over what he described as the UAE’s opaque agenda, warning that it risks destabilizing Somalia’s fragile political landscape.
Yasin, who previously headed the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) under former President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, known as Farmaajo, claimed the UAE is simultaneously supporting rival political figures while collaborating with Mohamud’s administration.
“I don’t know what the UAE wants from Somalia or what its plans are,” he said, questioning why Mohamud appears unperturbed by this dynamic.
A web of political alliances
The UAE’s growing footprint in Somalia has long been a point of contention. During Farmaajo’s tenure from 2017 to 2022, relations with the UAE soured over Mogadishu’s neutral stance in the Gulf diplomatic crisis between Qatar and a Saudi-led bloc, which included the UAE.
The Emirates subsequently scaled back direct engagement with Somalia’s federal government, instead fostering ties with semi-autonomous regions like Jubaland and Puntland.
Yasin pointed to these regional alliances as evidence of a broader strategy. He alleged that the UAE directly backs Jubaland leader Ahmed Madobe, Puntland’s Said Deni, and Somaliland president Abdurahman Cirro, creating a network of influence that undermines national unity.
“The UAE is the common denominator for these men, yet they don’t even greet each other,” Yasin remarked, suggesting a deliberate effort to fragment Somalia’s leadership.
Ahmed Madobe, a key UAE ally, has led Jubaland since 2012, often clashing with the federal government over autonomy and resource control. Similarly, Said Deni, Puntland’s president since 2019, has maintained a tense relationship with Mogadishu, bolstered by external support.
Mohamud’s balancing act
President Mohamud, who returned to power in May 2022 after defeating Farmaajo, has sought to mend ties with the UAE. The rapprochement has included renewed cooperation in security and development, a shift from the frosty relations of the previous administration.
However, Yasin criticized Mohamud for tolerating the UAE’s dual-track approach—working with his government while allegedly empowering his rivals.
“During Farmaajo’s time, it was said dealing with the UAE was a mistake,” Yasin recalled. “Now they’re back, and I don’t understand what they’re working toward.”
He likened the UAE’s tactics to those historically employed by Ethiopia’s Tigray leadership, which he said manipulated Somali factions to maintain regional dominance.
Yasin’s sharpest rebuke was reserved for Mohamud’s apparent inaction. “Hassan Sheikh, I say this as president: these men don’t want you. They didn’t support you in your first term, and now that you’ve ended the conflict with Farmaajo, they’re cozying up—but they still don’t want you,” he said. “I don’t know why you’re allowing this.”
A history of tension
The UAE’s involvement in Somalia extends beyond politics into economic and military spheres. Since 2014, Emirati companies like DP World have managed key ports, such as Bosaso in Puntland, while the UAE has trained security forces in Jubaland and Puntland, often independently of Mogadishu’s oversight.
This decentralized approach has fueled accusations of meddling, particularly after a 2018 diplomatic spat when Somalia seized millions in cash from a UAE plane, suspecting it was intended to sway local actors.
Analysts suggest the UAE’s interest in Somalia stems from its strategic location along the Gulf of Aden, a vital shipping route, and its rivalry with Turkey and Qatar, which have deepened ties with Mogadishu.
The Emirates’ support for regional leaders like Madobe and Deni is widely seen as a counterweight to federal authority, though Abu Dhabi has denied any intent to destabilize Somalia.
Yasin concluded his remarks with a stark warning: “If the UAE’s plan is to divide Somalis, it’s already on that path. I don’t know if it has another goal—and I can’t understand it.” He urged Mohamud to demand transparency from the UAE, arguing that Somalia’s government now has the capacity to assert control over its affairs.
Somalia, still recovering from decades of civil war and battling the Al-Shabaab insurgency, faces mounting challenges in unifying its fragmented political landscape. The UAE’s role, Yasin contends, could either bolster or unravel these efforts, depending on its true intentions.
