By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
Somalia, 14 January 2025 Dubai-owned ports and logistics company DP World has said that its operations at the Port of Berbera will not be affected by the ongoing dispute between the Government of Somalia and the United Arab Emirates.
In a statement to Reuters on Tuesday, DP World said its operations in Somaliland are continuing under existing agreements.
“DP World remains focused on the safe and efficient operation of the port, and on delivering trade facilitation and economic benefits for Somaliland and the wider Horn of Africa region,” the company said in its statement to Reuters.
Somaliland has previously said that the decision taken by Somalia’s federal government does not apply to it, arguing that its agreements are not subject to authority from Mogadishu. For its part, DP World did not comment on other agreements it holds with the federal member states of Puntland and Jubaland, both of which have opposed the Somali government’s decision.
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On Monday, the Somali government announced that it had annulled all port agreements and security cooperation deals with the United Arab Emirates, citing the need to protect Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The decision came as Somalia launched investigations last week into the reported covert transit of Yemeni secessionist Aidarus Al-Zubaidi through Somalia.
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has said that the UAE secretly evacuated the separatist leader from Yemen via Somalia, at a time when tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE were escalating.
The UAE has built deep economic and security ties with Somaliland. The centerpiece of its strategy is a $442 million investment by DP World to develop and operate the Port of Berbera.
