The Emiretes deputy prime minister and minister of presidential affairs Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan bin Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan and other government Carbinet Recieves somaliland delegation At UAE Presidential Palace.
Somaliland delegation led by Somaliland’s Vice President Abdirahman Abdilahi Ismail{Saili} arrived in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday last week.
The Emiretes deputy prime minister and minister of presidential affairs Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan bin Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan and other government Carbinet Receives somaliland delegation At UAE Presidential Palace.
The two governments discussed issues on drought and strengthening cooperation between the two countries and thoroughly analyzed.
On the other hand the sides Also discussed approved an agreement between Somaliland and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) allowing the Emirati government to establish a military base in the port town of Berbera on Sunday 12 February .
Somaliland & UAE Cooperation
The cooperation between the two countries intensified after the UAE’s involvement in the Yemen operations where the region’s strategic location south of the Bab al Mandeb strait proved crucial to their projection capabilities.
An area of 40km sq compromising of Berbera airport and sea front have been provided to the UAE for a period of 25 years and is renewable, the source added.
The base has been provided in exchange for security training, support and protection to Somaliland, the source added, providing a much needed security blanket to Somaliland which borders in Somalia .
Just five kilometres away from the base UAE ports giant, Dubai Ports World, has signed earlier this year a $442 million deal to develop Berbera port. The 30 year deal will see the commercial port expanded and doubled in size next to a large free zone and other infrastructure projects to provide a new gate way to Ethiopia, Africa’s fastest growing economy.
Meanwhile last week The Emiretes Government Recalled UAE ambassador to Somalia in protest to demands made by the Mogadishu government to stop the development of a military base in Somaliland.
The former British protectorate of Somaliland declared a unilateral independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991 and has succeeded in establishing peace and stability. But no country has so far recognized it as an independent state.
