MOGADISHU — Somalia’s federal government on Sunday notably excluded the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from its initial diplomatic statement condemning Iran’s retaliatory attacks on Gulf nations.
In an official communique released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mogadishu explicitly referenced and offered solidarity to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait. However, the initial statement completely omitted the UAE without providing any formal justification for the glaring exclusion.
Lingering Diplomatic Tensions
The omission immediately drew international attention, given that Somalia terminated all bilateral agreements and severed diplomatic relations with Abu Dhabi in January.
That decisive geopolitical break was triggered by Mogadishu’s accusations that the UAE had flagrantly violated Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial unity through its separate, unauthorized dealings with regional member states.
A Subsequent Clarification
Several hours after the initial release generated intense regional speculation, the Somali government issued a separate, secondary statement. This follow-up dispatch specifically addressed Iran’s military attacks on the UAE, explicitly condemning the assaults and emphasizing Abu Dhabi’s security in particular.
Across both official communications, Somalia firmly affirmed that the affected Gulf states possess the inherent right to defend their borders. As the Middle Eastern crisis deepens, Mogadishu continues to urge maximum military restraint to avert any further catastrophic escalation and to maintain fragile regional stability.
