MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali politicians seen as close to Qatar on Friday welcomed a federal decision to downgrade Somalia’s ties with the United Arab Emirates, applauding a move they framed as a defense of the country’s sovereignty and political independence.
Former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, who has lived in Turkey and Qatar since leaving office, backed the decision by the Federal Government’s Council of Ministers in a statement posted on Facebook.
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“I welcome the decisions issued today by the Federal Government of Somalia regarding the protection of Somali sovereignty, unity and national cohesion,” Farmaajo wrote. “The people and government of Somalia have an obligation to ensure that countries with which we maintain partnerships and friendly relations respect Somalia’s sovereignty and independence.”
Farmaajo did not mention the UAE by name but broadly endorsed the action announced by the Council of Ministers. Somalia-UAE relations were strained during his presidency, while Farmaajo maintained close political ties with Qatar alongside his then-ally, Fahad Yasin.
According to informed sources, Qatar played a significant role in providing political and financial backing to Farmaajo during his presidential campaign, though no official details or figures have been publicly disclosed.
Yasin, now the leader of the newly formed Haybad Qaran party, also celebrated the decision in a brief Facebook post that congratulated President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on the move taken by his administration.
“TONIGHT BELONGS TO HASSAN SHEIKH. CONGRATULATIONS,” Yasin wrote. He is among a group of Somali politicians who receive political support and residency assistance from Qatar, according to sources.
An unnamed Somali politician told Axadle that the statements by Farmaajo and Yasin highlight how Somali political figures are aligning themselves with rival Gulf powers that compete for influence in Somalia.
“These statements show how Somali politicians are lining up behind Gulf states involved in the regional rivalry, without giving sufficient consideration to the hardships such rivalries impose on the Somali population,” the politician said.
The Council of Ministers did not immediately release full details of the downgrade in ties with the UAE. The development, however, comes amid a period of intensifying tensions among Gulf states, which the Axadle report linked to recent geopolitical ripples across the Horn of Africa and the Middle East — including Israel’s announcement recognizing North Western State of Somalia and the ongoing crisis in Yemen.
The reactions from Farmaajo and Yasin underscore the enduring impact of Gulf rivalries on Somalia’s domestic politics and foreign policy. While Mogadishu’s governing institutions seek to project a unified stance on sovereignty, prominent figures remain perceived as aligned with competing regional patrons, a dynamic that has repeatedly complicated Somali diplomacy and internal cohesion.
It was not immediately clear how the downgrade would affect economic, security or humanitarian cooperation between Somalia and the UAE. Nor was there immediate comment from Emirati officials on the federal government’s move or the political endorsements it drew inside Somalia.
As Mogadishu calibrates its relationships with powerful Gulf states, the federal government faces pressure to balance sovereignty concerns with the practical realities of economic support, investment and security partnerships — all while Somalia navigates a volatile regional environment that continues to test its fragile political order.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
