European Union (Union) has called on United Arab Emirates (UAE) to stop meddling in Somalia affairs.
In a resolution approved on Wednesday, EU members of Parliament have said the Arabia Peninsula nation has taken retaliatory actions after Somalia opted to remain neutral in Gulf crisis.
Belgium bassed EU parliament warned that the activities of UAE seeking to undermine the government of Somalia saying the move could be a threat to the security of the Horn of African nation.
“The UAE has cease forthwith all acts of destabilization in Somalia and respect Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the resolution reads in part.
The EU said Saudi Arabia and the UAE have stopped their regular budgetary support payments to Somalia.
“In terms of the wider confrontation between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, on the one hand, and Qatar, on the other, the Federal Government of Somalia has sought to remain neutral; whereas, in retaliation, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have ceased their regular budgetary support payments to Somalia, which further weakens the government’s ability to pay the security forces,” the EU Parliament said.
The Saudi led bloc imposed a blockade on Qatar last year and embarked on a lobbying campaign to force countries to align with its decision.
Somalia was one of the targets of this effort but Somalia government decided to remain neutral. This triggered a series of clashes with the UAE in particular.
The Emiratis have sought to cultivate direct ties with Somaliland and Puntland and reach deals with state for the management of ports and security training initiatives, which are seen as undermining the unity and sovereignty of Somalia.
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