Mogadishu (Somalistandard) – A Somali lawmaker Abdullahi Kullane has sounded an alarm over the UAE’s activities in Somalia, warning that their unchecked operations could result in devastation similar to that seen in Yemen and Libya.
In a recent tweet, Kullane called on the Somali parliament to take action to prevent the UAE from ruining Somalia.
Kullane specifically urged the government to nullify leases by the UAE for the Koyama and Chovaye Islands, as well as Somali seaports, and all military agreements that he said are based on “dishonesty”.
He also called for measures to counter the UAE’s military build-up and arming of militias and mercenaries in the country and across some particular regional states.
According to Kullane, the leadership at the federal government level in Somalia must prioritize the country’s sovereignty and avoid granting the UAE unrestricted access to the intelligence community and command of the military at a price. He emphasized that the UAE must operate within the tenets of international law.
The UAE has been involved in Somalia for some time, with investments in infrastructure and the military respectively.
However, there have been concerns raised about the nature and extent of their involvement, with some accusing the UAE of pursuing its own interests at the expense of Somalia’s.
Meanwhike, Kullane’s warning comes amid growing tensions between Somalia and the UAE amid tensions over the Emirates support for the regional states, deemed by the central government as a significant challenge to its efforts to extend jts role across the country.
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