Somalia's PM sees 'positive' momentum in talks to repair ties with UAE

Somalia PM Mohamed Hussein Roble [L] and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed [R] - OPM

ABU DHABI - The United Arab Emirates [UAE] has reportedly accepted an apology issued by Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble over $9.6 million which was confiscated by authorities in Somalia in 2018 at the Aden Adde International Airport.

Authorities in Somalia took the money despite a valid explanation by the UAE, a close partner of Mogadishu at that time. The money was taken just a year after Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo assumed office as president of the Horn of Africa nation.

The UAE said the funds were meant to finance units of the Somali National Army [SNA] it trained in Mogadishu to assist the country in the struggle of soldiers' salaries at that time. The SNA was involved in a serious fight against Al-Shabaab militants in the country.

And it's on Tuesday during Roble's trip to the UAE where the Emiratis accepted the apology, in what could further create a rift between PM Roble and outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, who maintained close ties with Qatar, a sworn enemy of UAE.

A few weeks ago, Roble tendered an apology and instructed the Central Bank of Somalia to surrender the funds to the United Arab Emirates. However, in a quick rejoinder, Farmaajo rubbished the decision, insisting that a thorough audit ought to be done.

Last week, the Benadir regional court ordered the central bank not to release the funds until investigations are done. UAE and Qatar have been battling over the control of Somalia since 2017.

On Tuesday, PM Roble met Sheikh Shakhboot Nahyan Al Nahyan, the state minister for the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tuesday. The relations between the two countries have been at a low point since the Gulf crisis began in 2017, soared in 2018 after the $9.6m seizure.

Later, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Receives the Somali Prime Minister where among others, they discussed ways of improving the relationship between Mogadishu and Abu Dhabi.

"We reviewed the prospects of the bilateral relations and development in the region and cooperation between the two countries. I thanked him for the support to the people of Somalia," Roble said in a tweet, adding that Somalia remains committed in the bid to strengthen its relationship with Abu Dhabi.

GAROWE ONLINE