In brief
- Horn Diplomat reported on 14 September 2019 that Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi announced suspension of the UAE military base at Berbera airport.
- The announcement was made in a televised speech at Berbera airport.
- The report does not establish what happened to the base project after that date.
On 14 September 2019, Horn Diplomat reported that Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi announced the suspension of the construction of a United Arab Emirates military base at Berbera airport. The announcement was made in a televised speech at the airport.
President Bihi said that Berbera's airport had become a civilian airport and that construction of the airport would begin that week.
The report does not establish what happened after that date. It does not say whether construction stopped, continued, or resumed. It does not identify any contractor, consultant, client, funder, or contract value for the base. It does not state the date on which UAE construction began, nor does it provide any physical progress or completion data.
Horn Diplomat reported that the Somaliland parliament had approved the deal allowing the UAE to establish an air and naval base in Berbera on 12 February 2017. The report also said the UAE had begun construction of the base on a site at the airport. The agreement was reported to allow the UAE to maintain its presence for 30 years.
President Muse Bihi Abdi said that Berbera's airport had become a civilian airport. He also said that construction of the airport would begin that week. The report does not reconcile these statements with the announcement of suspension or cancellation.
The report attributes the announcement of cancellation to President Muse Bihi Abdi, but it does not establish whether the agreement was legally cancelled.