Somaliland affirms full sovereignty over Berbera and rejects Mogadishu’s claims

13th January 2026

2 minutes read

Somaliland affirms full sovereignty over Berbera and rejects Mogadishu’s claims

Somaliland has reaffirmed its full sovereignty over the port of Berbera and rejected any claims made by Mogadishu regarding the agreements concluded in relation to it.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Somaliland said: “We are closely monitoring the statement issued by the so-called ‘Government of Somalia’, which contains unfounded claims alleging that it has authority over agreements related to the city of Berbera.”

The Somali government announced on Monday the cancellation of agreements signed with the United Arab Emirates, including those concerning the port of Berbera in Somaliland.

In response, Somaliland stated in the communiqué published by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the X platform that Mogadishu “is not a party to any agreement concluded by Somaliland, nor does it act as a guarantor for any of them”.

The statement added: “Accordingly, Somalia has no legal standing that would enable it to suspend, amend, or influence these agreements in any way. Any such attempt is legally null and void and contradicts established facts as well as well-settled principles of international law.”

The ministry emphasized that “all agreements concluded between Somaliland and the United Arab Emirates are legal, valid, and fully binding”.

It clarified that these agreements were concluded by the competent constitutional authorities of Somaliland to promote development, trade, infrastructure, and regional stability, noting that they “are not affected by external political statements”.

In the same context, the ministry expressed its appreciation to the United Arab Emirates and its leadership for their long-standing partnership and constructive contributions to peace, stability, and economic development in Somaliland and the wider Horn of Africa region.

Somaliland, which covers an area of approximately 176,000 square kilometers, enjoys de facto self-governance, has its own currency, army, and dedicated police forces, and is characterized by relative stability compared to Somalia, which continues to face the threat of Al-Shabaab terrorism and protracted political conflicts.