Third country to mediate in Somalia-UAE diplomatic row-Foreign Minister
By T. Roble
It started last week with the denouncement of the Berbera Tripartite deal by Somalia terming it a nullity, then a war of words ensued before it spiraled online as bots and human users exchanged vitriol gravitating into full diplomatic row between Somalia and the United Arab Emirates.
A third country is stepping in to mediate the conflict whose origins could go way back 2016 elections when some Gulf countries pitched for certain candidates to succeed President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The Gulf Crisis could further explain the tiff.
Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmed Awad said in a radio interview Saturday a third country which he did not name had volunteered to mediate following Somalia’s petition at Arab League ministerial conference last week. Somalia had sought the intervention of the Arab League over what it termed as violation of its sovereignty regarding the port sharing deal between Somaliland, Ethiopia and the Emirati owned DP World.
“After we raised our concerns regarding the Berbera Port Agreement at the Arab League, a brotherly nation with good relations between the two countries pledged to mediate,” said Awad.
The Minister did not however identity that third country. State Minister of Foreign Affairs Abulkadir Khaire declined Goobjoog News’ query on the same but confirmed the mediation. “Indeed there is a third country which has offered to mediate but I cannot reveal its identity now.”
President Mohamed Farmaajo last February reportedly sought the intervention of Saudi Arabia’s Prince Mohamed Bin Salman over the Naval Base agreement between Somaliland and UAE warning the deal would jeorpadise relations between the two countries.
An exchange which on one side calls for exit of President Mohamed Farmaajo and another in defence started Wednesday days after DP World group chairman and chief executive Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem went on the rampage not only dismissing Somalia’s response but also acknowledging Somaliland as an independent country capable of entering into international agreements at its own volition.
UAE operates a military academy in Mogadishu training Somali troops alongside Turkey which also built a military academy last year in the capital Mogadishu. US, Britain and Amisom also train Somali security forces.
The Twitter war which peaked Friday seems to have waned by today but tweets in support of President Farmaajo have been continuing into Saturday.