MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s federal government has agreed to allow the United Arab Emirates to withdraw its remaining personnel and military equipment from Mogadishu without inspection, following mediation by Ethiopia.
Under the arrangement, four aircraft belonging to the Ethiopian government were authorised to conduct the withdrawal. Two of the planes were designated to transport Emirati embassy staff and foreign workers, while the remaining aircraft were assigned to carry military weapons and equipment.
The decision marked a reversal of an earlier position taken by Mogadishu. On Wednesday, Somalia’s federal government rejected a request for Ethiopian aircraft to airlift Emirati military equipment after Abu Dhabi insisted on direct withdrawal procedures without searches.
Following Ethiopian mediation, however, the Somali authorities accepted the UAE’s terms and granted clearance for the aircraft to operate directly from Terminal 23 at Mogadishu’s international airport.
The first flight carrying UAE military equipment departed Mogadishu on Thursday afternoon, with a second flight expected to follow within hours.
The withdrawal comes days after Somalia’s federal government terminated all agreements with the United Arab Emirates, including contracts related to the management of the ports of Bosaso, Berbera and Kismayo, as well as defence and security cooperation arrangements between the two governments.
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