MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Puntland President Saeed Abdullahi Deni is in the United Arab Emirates for high-level talks with Emirati officials, a visit that comes just a week after Somalia’s federal government cancelled all agreements with Abu Dhabi.
Mr Deni arrived in the UAE two days ago, following a three-day visit to Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa.
His trip coincided with a sharp deterioration in relations between Somalia and the UAE, which reached their lowest point last week when the federal government in Mogadishu announced the cancellation of all bilateral agreements with Abu Dhabi. The move covered cooperation on defence and security, as well as development and management deals relating to ports, including the port of Bosaso in Puntland.
Puntland authorities strongly opposed the decision, arguing that the federal government lacks the legal authority to annul such agreements without consulting Somalia’s regional states. They said the decision was therefore invalid and had no bearing on existing arrangements in Puntland.
Mr Deni’s visit to the UAE underscores the deepening political rift between the federal government and the semi-autonomous Puntland administration, as well as the growing complexity of Somalia’s relations with some of its international partners.
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