By HAN Newe Desk
MOGADISHU — A vessel linked to the United Arab Emirates is currently docked at the Port of Mogadishu, where it is loading cargo and heavy vehicles amid tight security supervision by Somali intelligence forces, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
Witnesses and port sources said staff from the UAE Embassy in Mogadishu are overseeing the loading operation. Their movements inside and around the port are being closely monitored by officers from Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), who are providing security while also tracking the delegation’s activities.
The development follows the formal implementation of recent directives issued by the Federal Government of Somalia, which place stricter controls on foreign diplomatic and logistical operations. Somali officials say the measures are part of broader efforts to reinforce state authority and ensure transparency in foreign engagements.
Government sources indicated that the UAE has complied with the new directives, at least for now, amid a complex political relationship between Mogadishu and Abu Dhabi that has fluctuated in recent years.
Some political analysts in Mogadishu suggest Emirati officials believe future political changes in Somalia could restore their previous level of influence, similar to periods before the current administration of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
Neither the UAE Embassy nor Somali government spokespeople have issued a formal public statement regarding the long-term implications of the cargo transfer.
