By HAN News Desk
MOGADISHU — The former head of Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), Colonel Abdullahi Ali Ma’ow, has accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of being “an enemy of Islam” and of fueling instability across the Horn of Africa, including Somalia.
Speaking in a recent interview with Goobjoog Media, Colonel Ma’ow alleged that the UAE has been “deeply involved in activities that undermine peace, unity, and Islamic solidarity in the region.” He claimed that the Gulf nation continues to interfere in Somalia’s internal affairs through political manipulation, financial influence, and the backing of rival groups.
“The UAE is not only working against Somalia’s national interests but against the wider unity of the Muslim world,” Ma’ow said. “Their involvement in the Horn of Africa has caused divisions, corruption, and the weakening of legitimate state institutions.”
The former intelligence chief further alleged that the UAE’s actions in countries such as Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Sudan have contributed to political instability, proxy conflicts, and the exploitation of natural and strategic resources. According to him, these activities form part of a broader effort to extend the UAE’s geopolitical influence across Africa’s eastern seaboard.
Ma’ow, who served as Somalia’s intelligence head during a critical phase of the country’s security transition, has long been an outspoken critic of foreign interference in Somali affairs. He emphasized that external powers — particularly those pursuing military and economic interests — have prolonged Somalia’s fragile statehood and obstructed national reconciliation.
“Somalia and its neighbors must prioritize unity and protect their sovereignty,” he said. “Peace in the Horn of Africa can only be achieved through regional cooperation, not through external manipulation.”
The remarks come amid renewed debate over the UAE’s expanding footprint in the Horn of Africa, where it has developed military bases, port operations, and security partnerships. While some regional observers view the UAE’s investments as potential drivers of economic growth, critics like Ma’ow warn that such involvement risks deepening divisions and undermining national independence.
