00:00Somalia's president Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud has announced that his government has cancelled all agreements with the United Arab Emirates,
00:08accusing the Gulf state of failing to respect Somalia's sovereignty and unity.
00:13In a televised address, Mahmoud said the federal cabinet decided to terminate agreements covering economic infrastructure, security and defense.
00:22The UAE did not treat us as a single unified government with sovereignty and independence.
00:33We repeatedly requested that they engage with us as one unified Somali government, but this did not happen.
00:41The president went further, accusing the UAE of bypassing the federal authorities and interfering in the Somalia's internal affairs.
00:58The UAE has long invested in Somaliland's Barbara Port and the development has intensified concerns in Mogadishu about foreign involvement in domestic affairs.
01:11They even engaged in illegal activities within the country by circumventing the federal government.
01:26Some actions were carried out without Mogadishu's full knowledge.
01:32The move comes amid heightening regional tensions following Israel's recognition of Somaliland.
01:38The breakaway territory Somalia considers part of its sovereign land.
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