A senior government official from Somaliland told Africalix that Somalia’s recent announcement canceling agreements with the United Arab Emirates has no legal, political, or practical relevance to Somaliland or to operations at Berbera port.
On January 12, Somalia’s federal government declared the cancellation of all agreements with the UAE, citing sovereignty and territorial integrity concerns and referencing port-related projects, including Berbera.
Responding to the announcement, the senior Somaliland official made clear that Somalia’s decision does not apply to Somaliland in any capacity.
“Somalia has no authority over Somaliland’s territory, institutions, or international agreements,” the official said. “Berbera port operates under agreements signed by the Government of Somaliland, and those agreements remain fully valid.”
The official emphasized that Somaliland independently governs its territory and manages its political, economic, and security affairs, including all port operations and foreign commercial partnerships.
The Berbera port concession was signed in 2016 between DP World and the Government of Somaliland, granting a 30-year mandate to develop and operate the port. Under the agreement, DP World holds 51 percent, Somaliland holds 30 percent, and Ethiopia holds 19 percent. Somalia’s federal government was not involved.
According to the official, international commercial practice is clear: authority rests with the government that exercises control and enters into binding contracts.
“Statements issued by another government do not affect agreements to which it is not a party,” the official said. “Somaliland alone is responsible for Berbera’s security, customs, and daily operations.”
The official noted that similar claims from Mogadishu have been made repeatedly since 2018 without any impact on port operations or investment.
Concluding, the senior official stressed that Somalia’s announcement may affect arrangements under its own jurisdiction, but it does not extend beyond its borders.
“Somaliland’s decisions are taken in Hargeisa,” the official said. “They are not subject to approval or cancellation elsewhere.”
