Mogadishu – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Tuesday delivered a national address outlining recent developments and steps taken by the federal government to safeguard Somalia’s unity, territorial integrity, and political independence, including the decision to cancel agreements with the United Arab Emirates.

In his address, the president explained the government’s justification for terminating the agreements, emphasizing Somalia’s sovereignty and constitutional authority. He said the agreements were initially entered into in good faith, based on expectations of mutual respect and adherence to international norms governing relations between states.

President Hassan Sheikh noted that this trust had been undermined by actions that, in his view, failed to treat Somalia as a unified sovereign state. He criticized what he described as indirect and opaque engagement through multiple channels, as well as activities carried out inside Somalia without the knowledge or approval of the federal government.

“These activities, conducted without federal authorization or oversight, directly undermine Somalia’s sovereignty and national unity,” the president said, adding that after extensive deliberations and careful assessment, the government had no alternative but to cancel the agreements with the UAE.

The president reaffirmed that Somalia remains open to international cooperation based on mutual respect, transparency, and full recognition of the country’s unity, sovereignty, and constitutional order. He concluded by stressing that all government decisions are guided by the supreme national interest and the will of the Somali people.

The address marks a firm assertion of federal authority in Somalia’s foreign relations, signaling a shift toward stricter oversight of external partnerships. While framed as a sovereignty-driven decision, the move also underscores the broader challenge of reconciling international engagement with internal political cohesion in Somalia’s evolving federal system.