Why Somalia is cancelling UAE port deals - The EastAfrican

Somalia's recent decision to terminate strategic port agreements with UAE-backed operators signals a fundamental shift in the Horn of Africa nation's approach to foreign infrastructure investment. This pivot, driven by concerns over sovereignty and economic control, presents both cautionary lessons and emerging opportunities for European investors seeking footholds in one of Africa's most strategically important maritime regions. The cancellations represent Somalia's attempt to reclaim control over critical national assets following decades of fragmented governance. The UAE had leveraged its early support during Somalia's state collapse to secure preferential access to port operations at Kismayo and Bosaso, deals that effectively outsourced revenue collection and operational control to a foreign entity. For Somalia's federal government, reasserting direct management of these facilities became a matter of national priority and sovereignty reassertion under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's administration. From a geopolitical perspective, this move reflects broader regional dynamics. China's aggressive port investments across East Africa—particularly in Kenya, Tanzania, and Djibouti—have demonstrated the strategic value of maritime infrastructure. Somalia, recognizing this precedent, has grown wary of long-term concession agreements that could compromise its long-term economic independence. The UAE's extensive footprint in the region, combined with historical concerns about Emirati influence in Somali politics, made the