Security forces
The United Arab Emirates' military in Somalia
The UAE has funded and trained Somali forces since about 2010, first the Puntland Maritime Police Force and from 2014 federal army units in Mogadishu. It ended its training mission in April 2018 after Somali forces seized US$9.6 million from a UAE plane, and resumed it after 2022, funding about 10,000 personnel for new units. Four Emirati soldiers and a Bahraini officer were killed in an attack at Mogadishu's General Gordon base in February 2024. In January 2026 Somalia's cabinet cancelled all agreements with the UAE, including security and defence cooperation.
In short
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been one of the main funders and trainers of Somali forces, working with the federal government at some times and with regional administrations at others. This page records its military role from the sources. It is part of Foreign forces in Somalia.
The Puntland Maritime Police Force, from 2010
The UN Monitoring Group reported in 2012 that the Puntland Maritime Police Force was set up in 2010 and trained by private firms, and that it was financed mainly by senior UAE officials; the UAE government officially denied involvement (UN Monitoring Group, S/2012/544, paras. 61–64). Ido Levy of the Washington Institute wrote in 2024 that Emirati advisers helped create the force, funded at about US$50 million a year, and that it fought in the Galgala mountains and led the retaking of Qandala from the Islamic State faction in 2016 (Ido Levy, Washington Institute, 18 March 2024). See Puntland security forces.
Training federal forces, 2014–2018
The Associated Press reported that the UAE began training Somali soldiers in 2014 and paid the salaries of 2,407 of them. On 8 April 2018 Somali security forces seized US$9.6 million in cash from a UAE aircraft at Mogadishu airport; Somalia said the money was undeclared, and the UAE said its soldiers were held at gunpoint. On 15 April 2018 the UAE ended its training mission (Defense News, AP, 17 April 2018).
Return after 2022
Levy wrote that the training resumed after Hassan Sheikh Mohamud returned to office in 2022. He reported that the UAE funded about 10,000 personnel for new federal units, including a military police unit of 3,500–4,500 trained in Uganda and brigades trained in Ethiopia and Egypt; that it paid about US$9 million a month to the new brigades, at about twice the normal army salary; and that it gave vehicles and training to Jubaland's forces in 2023 (Washington Institute, 2024). See Jubaland security forces.
General Gordon base, February 2024. On 10 February 2024 an attacker inside the General Gordon base in Mogadishu killed three Emirati soldiers and a Bahraini officer; a fourth Emirati soldier died on the way home. Al-Shabaab claimed the attack and called the UAE an "enemy of Shariah law" for backing the government (Africanews, 14 February 2024).
Air strikes and bases in the north
- Air strikes. The UAE does not announce strikes in Somalia. Caleb Weiss of Long War Journal reported that the UAE was believed to have carried out its first drone strike in Somalia in June 2023, in Galgaduud, and at least two strikes in Puntland's Cal Miskaad mountains in early 2025 during Puntland's offensive against the Islamic State faction, with some Puntland outlets confirming its role (Caleb Weiss, Long War Journal, 5 February 2025). See Islamic State in Somalia.
- Bosaso. The same report said almost 200 Emirati troops were based at a maritime police base in Bosaso (Long War Journal, 2025).
- Berbera. The UAE built and controls the port and military base at Berbera in Somaliland (Africanews, 13 January 2026).
Cancellation, January 2026
On 12 January 2026 Somalia's Council of Ministers said it "hereby nullifies and revokes all existing agreements with the United Arab Emirates", covering the ports of Berbera, Bosaso and Kismayo and bilateral security and defence cooperation, citing "strong evidence" of actions against Somalia's sovereignty and unity. The decision was said to apply to federal agencies and regional administrations (Africanews, 13 January 2026). Africanews linked the rift to the UAE's reported support for Israel's recognition of Somaliland and to a dispute over the use of Berbera.
Sources differ
- Who funded the Puntland force. The UN group said senior UAE officials; the UAE government denied involvement in 2012.
- Deaths in February 2024. Three Emirati soldiers and a Bahraini officer were reported killed at first; a fourth Emirati died later. Al-Shabaab claimed many more.
- Effect of the 2026 cancellation. Puntland and Somaliland, which host Emirati facilities, did not accept the federal decision, according to regional reports.
Read the primary sources yourself
Sources
- UN Monitoring Group, S/2012/544, paras. 61–64 · documents.un.org
- Ido Levy, Washington Institute, 18 March 2024 · washingtoninstitute.org
- Defense News, AP, 17 April 2018 · defensenews.com
- Africanews, 14 February 2024 · africanews.com
- Caleb Weiss, Long War Journal, 5 February 2025 · longwarjournal.org
- Africanews, 13 January 2026 · africanews.com
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Read the callWhere this matters
- Muqdisho (Mogadishu) and BanaadirMogadishu (Muqdisho) is Somalia's capital and makes up the Banadir region, with about 2.97 million people in 20 districts.
- Hargeysa (Hargeisa) and Woqooyi GalbeedWoqooyi Galbeed is the north-western region that holds Hargeisa (Hargeysa) and the port of Berbera, with about 1 to 1.45 million people.
- Kismaayo (Kismayo) and Lower JubaLower Juba is the far southern region on the border with Kenya, with the port city of Kismayo (Kismaayo) as its capital and about 1.2 million people.
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- ATMIS, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, 2022–2024ATMIS, 2022–2024: why it was created, its drawdown in phases, the bases handed over, the attacks on its camps, and the move to AUSSOM.
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