MOGADISHU, Somalia – The Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Daud Aweys Jama, has firmly defended the Federal Government’s recent decision to nullify defense and security agreements with the United Arab Emirates. Addressing the weekly National Media forum in Mogadishu, the Minister characterized the move as a necessary and decisive legal action taken to safeguard the dignity, safety, and territorial integrity of the Somali nation.
Minister Aweys clarified the specific scope of the decision, noting that the termination targets cooperation frameworks related strictly to the security and defense sectors between Mogadishu and Abu Dhabi. However, he was keen to distinguish this specific policy shift from the broader bilateral relationship. The Minister confirmed that standard diplomatic ties remain active and that consular and embassy operations in both capitals continue to function without interruption, ensuring that political communication channels remain open despite the suspension of military cooperation.
In a candid assessment of the engagement between the two nations, Minister Daud Aweys addressed the balance of support versus interference. While acknowledging past assistance provided by the UAE, he argued that the detrimental impact of certain interventions on Somalia’s internal stability and public welfare had become disproportionately high. The Minister suggested that the decision was driven by a calculation that the damage inflicted by these specific arrangements outweighed the benefits, necessitating a realignment of the partnership to prioritize Somali national interests above all else.
Concluding his remarks, the Minister reiterated the Federal Government’s foreign policy doctrine, which is predicated on mutual respect and non-interference. He issued a broad invitation to the international community, stating that the Federal Republic of Somalia remains open to cultivating strong relationships with any entity that demonstrates genuine respect for its sovereignty, unity, and independence. “Anyone interested in or respecting our unity and independence can have a relationship with Somalia,” Minister Aweys declared, signaling that adherence to these core principles is the prerequisite for all future diplomatic and strategic partnerships.
