Somali UAE Agreements are being thrown away by the government and many analysts think this is a very bad idea for the future security and economy of the country. While some leaders in Mogadishu say they want to protect the sovereignty of the land they are actually cutting off a hand that was helping the nation grow. For many years the United Arab Emirates was a strong partner that built ports and trained soldiers to fight against the groups that hide in the bushes.
To just wake up and say that all the Somali UAE Agreements are finished is a very risky move that might leave the state alone when it needs friends the most. Decision makers should be careful about taking steps based on anger instead of thinking about what is best for the normal people who need jobs and safety every day.
The loss of military support and training
The first thing to worry about with the end of the Somali UAE Agreements is what happens to the brave soldiers on the front lines. The UAE was paying for the training and the salaries of special units that were doing a great job keeping the peace in many regions.
Now that the government is stopping the Somali UAE Agreements there is a big question about where the money will come from to keep these men in the field. If the soldiers do not get paid they might leave their posts and that will give the enemy a chance to come back and hurt civilians again. The nation cannot afford to lose its best trained units just because of a political fight in the capital.
Economic damage to the ports and trade
The ports are the lifeblood of the country and the Somali UAE Agreements were bringing in a lot of investment to make them modern and busy. Companies from Dubai have the experience and the money to turn a small harbor into a global shipping hub that brings millions of dollars to the people. By canceling the Somali UAE Agreements the government is telling the world that this is not a safe place to invest money because rules can change at any time.
This will scare away other business people who might have wanted to build factories or roads in the cities. There is a need for more trade and better ports to lower the price of food and clothes for poor families.
Breaking diplomatic ties with a powerful neighbor
The UAE is a very influential country in the Middle East and having them as an enemy is not a smart thing for a country that is still rebuilding. The Somali UAE Agreements were a bridge that connected the state to a network of wealthy nations that could help in international meetings. When the Somali UAE Agreements are destroyed like this it makes the country isolated and weak in the eyes of the world. It is much better to sit down and talk about the problems rather than just burning all the papers and walking away. Diplomacy is about finding a middle ground and not just shouting no until everyone leaves the room.
The struggle for the national budget
The government already struggles to pay for basic things like schools and hospitals and the Somali UAE Agreements helped take some of that weight off their shoulders. The aid and the projects that came with these deals were a big help to the national budget every year. Now that the Somali UAE Agreements have ended a way must be found to pay for everything locally which is going to be very hard. There might be higher taxes on the markets or less money for the teachers which will make life harder for everyone. It is easy to talk about pride but it is hard to feed a nation when the treasury is empty and the partners are gone.
Uncertainty for the workers abroad
There is also the matter of the thousands of brothers and sisters who live and work in the UAE and send money back home. If the relationship stays bad because of the Somali UAE Agreements cancellation it might affect their visas and their ability to work there safely. The money they send back is what keeps many families alive in the villages and the towns across the country. These lives are put at risk when a big fight starts over the Somali UAE Agreements without thinking about the people. The government should remember that their decisions have consequences for every citizen whether they are inside the country or far away.
It is very sad to see a partnership fall apart like this especially when there are so many other problems to solve. The Somali UAE Agreements were not perfect but they were a way to get the help needed to stand up again after the war. The hope is that the leaders will rethink this decision and try to find a way to work together again for the benefit of all. If everyone who wants to help is pushed away the country will find itself in a very dark place with no one to call. The interests of the people must come before the pride of the politicians.
Read Also: How the UAE’s Counterterrorism Efforts Undermine the Danger of Jihadism in Somalia
In conclusion it must be asked if the country is really ready to go it alone without the support it used to have. The Somali UAE Agreements were a big part of the growth and losing them is a step backward for the whole nation. It is important to be smart and keep friends close to see a peaceful and rich country in the future. The road ahead is long and it will be much harder without the partnerships that were just thrown away.
