Continuous Struggle Against Terrorism: The UAE Supports Somalia’s Stability
On February 11, 2024, a member of the "Al-Shabaab Mujahideen Movement" in Somalia carried out a shooting attack at the General "Gordon" Military Base at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu.
The operation ended with the death of at least 9 soldiers, according to Somali media, including four Emirati officers and one Bahraini officer, while five Somali forces were killed. However, media sources affiliated with Al-Shabaab confirmed the deaths of 17 individuals, including the five Emirati and Bahraini officers, five Somali forces, and eight others from the “UAE-affiliated mercenary forces,” as described by the organization’s supporters.
The UAE and Somalia
Paths of Relationship The Emirati-Somali relations have experienced various forms of fluctuation, interconnection, and animosity, shaping a winding path between the two countries based on major interactions influencing events on one hand and the UAE’s stance on internal Somali issues on the other.
The positive relationship officially began between the two countries with the launch of the second phase of the United Nations intervention in Somalia between March 1993 and March 1995. The UAE participated alongside other countries with some military battalions for peacekeeping in Mogadishu, providing thousands of tents for refugees fleeing the war, along with the construction of a field hospital, which later developed into the “Zayed Charitable Hospital.” Furthermore, the UAE began supporting charitable and humanitarian organizations with financial and medical grants.
After Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud returned to the presidency on May 15, 2022, the UAE signed new security agreements with the Somali army and government, including contributions to targeting Al-Shabaab, exchanging information on counterterrorism and its financing, and reactivating and financing the Somali Army training program.
The UAE Supports Somalia’s Stability
The militant Al-Shabaab movement affiliated with Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on foreign forces on February 13, targeting the General Gordon military base. The attack resulted in the martyrdom of four Emirati soldiers and one Bahraini military officer. The forces were on a mission to train their Somali counterparts to combat Al-Shabaab.
The Al-Shabaab movement, an extremist group seeking to overthrow the Western-backed Somali government, has been a continuous threat in the region for years, carrying out numerous attacks in Somalia and neighboring Kenya, targeting military and civilian objectives. In the recent attack, Al-Shabaab described the United Arab Emirates as an “enemy” for its support of the Somali government against them.
International Condemnations
The Transitional African Union Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) strongly condemned the attack, reaffirming its commitment to combating terrorism in cooperation with the Somali government and international partners. The U.S. Embassy in Somalia also condemned the attack, describing it as a cowardly act.
Details of the incident remain unclear, but reports indicate that the attack targeted forces at the General Gordon military base, where Emirati soldiers were on a training mission with the Somali National Army. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack, which resulted in casualties among the forces.
Threat to Stability
In a separate incident, an improvised explosive device attack by Al-Shabaab on the outskirts of Mogadishu resulted in casualties among government soldiers, targeting a military vehicle, resulting in the death of two soldiers and the injury of two others. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack, highlighting the group’s continued ability to threaten stability in Somalia through asymmetric attacks.
The UAE Ministry of Defense confirmed the deaths and injuries, with one of the injured succumbing to his wounds. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud expressed his condolences to the UAE, while Bahrain did not immediately acknowledge the attack.
A Continuous Struggle Against
Terrorism The attack on foreign forces in Somalia serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing struggle against extremist groups in the region. With Al-Shabaab continuing to pose a threat to stability in Somalia and neighboring countries, the international community must remain vigilant and committed to combating terrorism in all its forms.
In a world where the lines between war and peace are increasingly blurred, the human cost of conflict becomes all too real. Today, families of Emirati and Bahraini soldiers must bear the burden of this tragedy, but it also serves as a reminder that the fight against extremism is a global battle, and we can only hope to achieve lasting peace and security through collective action.
