Garowe, Puntland – The Puntland administration has declared that it will not be bound by the recent decision of the Somali cabinet to suspend all agreements between Somalia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
In an official statement, Puntland described the cabinet’s move as illegal and said it would have no effect on agreements signed within Puntland’s territory. The regional government emphasized that it has the authority to protect, suspend, or amend security and development agreements with foreign companies and governments operating in its jurisdiction.
Puntland further highlighted the importance of some of these agreements, noting that they support efforts to combat terrorist groups such as ISIS and Al-Shabaab and contribute to the security of international waters off the Somali coast.
The announcement underscores ongoing tensions between Somalia’s federal government and Puntland over authority and control of regional agreements with international partners.
