UAE transfers men convicted of attempted hijacking of ship to Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The United Arab Emirates [UAE] has transferred ten men convicted of an attempt to hijack a ship about a decade ago, in what paves way for a dramatic shift in the relationship between Mogadishu and Abu Dhabi, which had been severely strained.

The former administration under the leadership of Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo had strained its relationship with UAE, in what was blamed on inroads made by Qatar to the Horn of Africa nation. Qatar almost dominated the internal politics of the country.

On Saturday, the ten men arrived at Mogadishu airport after several years in detention in UAE, where they were convicted of attempting to hijack an oil ship in 2011. The transfer comes just a week after Hassan Sheikh Mohamud took over from Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.

The men are ready for release after 25 years but UAE agreed to take them to Somalia after a recent visit by Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble to Abu Dhabi. Roble was in Abu Dhabi for a few days and returned just after Hassan Sheikh Mohamud took over the office in Villa Somalia last week.

While it's not clear if the men will continue serving in jail in Somalia, there are high chances that such a deal was signed. Usually, countries can sign agreements of transferring prisoners who have been serving away from their countries.

The ten men are Abdalla Mohamud Farah, Abdulfatah Hussein Mohamed, Mohamud Abdi Ibrahim, Hassan Saeed Hussein, Abdulhamed Abdullah Mohamed, Saqaar Mohamed Yusuf, Guleed Hersi Farah, Ali Tahlil Mohamud
Abdo Ali Saeed, Ahmed Mohamed, and Abdullah Dahleya.

The current Somalia administration has been having a cordial relationship with UAE even during the time of the opposition. Last week, UAE donated $9.6 million to Somalia to help in the fight against drought which has ravaged the country got a couple of years.

Reports indicate that the money had been returned by Somalia by UAE after being seized by the former administration over suspicions that it was meant to topple the government. UAE instead maintained that the money was meant to pay dues of soldiers who have been instrumental in the Al-Shabaab war.

GAROWE ONLINE