# Somaliland Dismisses Somalia's Berbera Claims as Legally Baseless

> Somaliland rejected Somalia's announced annulment of UAE port deals on 2026-01-13, calling the claims legally void and reaffirming its agreements.

- By: Editorial Team, Somali Construction Review (https://somaliconstructionreview.com/about)
- Published: 30 September 2026
- Format: News story (reported from one named public source)
- Publication: Somali Construction Review (https://somaliconstructionreview.com)
- Subject: Infrastructure and Services
- Tags: ports, construction-risk
- Web version: https://somaliconstructionreview.com/blog/somaliland-dismisses-somalia-berbera-claims

## Key points

- On 2026-01-13, Somaliland Standard reported that Somaliland's government issued an official statement rejecting Somalia's claims over Berbera port.
- Somaliland asserted Somalia holds no legal, administrative, or practical control over Berbera and is not party to any Somaliland-UAE agreements.
- The report does not establish any developments after 2026-01-13, any specific agreements in dispute, or any response from Somalia or the UAE.

On 13 January 2026, Somaliland Standard reported that the Somaliland government had issued an official statement dismissing Somalia's claims of authority over the port of Berbera and its associated international agreements.

Somaliland Standard reported that the statement described Somalia's claims as false and asserted that Berbera forms an integral part of Somaliland's sovereign territory. According to the same report, Somaliland stated that Somalia holds no legal, administrative, or practical control over the port or the nation.

The statement, as reported by Somaliland Standard, addressed a recent press release from Somalia's government that reportedly sought to annul or influence agreements involving Berbera. Somaliland Standard also reported that Somalia had recently announced the annulment of various bilateral agreements with the UAE, including those related to ports such as Berbera.

Somaliland Standard reported that Somaliland's statement rejected any Somali attempt to suspend, alter, or impact these pacts, declaring such attempts legally void and inconsistent with international law. It further asserted that Somalia is not a party to any deals signed by Somaliland, nor does it serve as a guarantor or sponsor for such agreements, past, present, or future.

The report stated that Somaliland reaffirmed the validity of all agreements between Somaliland and the United Arab Emirates, describing them as fully legal, active, and enforceable. These partnerships, it noted, were entered into by Somaliland's authorized constitutional bodies to advance economic development, trade, infrastructure, and regional stability.

Somaliland Standard also reported that the statement expressed appreciation to the UAE government and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for their partnership and contributions to peace, stability, and economic progress in the Horn of Africa. The statement concluded by underscoring Somaliland's commitment to international cooperation grounded in mutual respect, non-interference, and adherence to international law.

The report does not establish what has happened since 13 January 2026. It does not name any specific agreement between Somaliland and the UAE, nor does it state whether Somalia's announcement has had any legal or practical effect on Berbera port operations or UAE investments. No response from the Somali government or the UAE is included in the report.

## Questions

### What is Somaliland's legal argument for the Berbera agreements?

Somaliland's government, as reported by Somaliland Standard, holds that Somalia has no legal, administrative, or practical control over Berbera and therefore cannot annul or alter Somaliland's agreements with the UAE.

### Has there been any change in port operations?

The report does not state any change in port operations. It only reports on Somaliland's rejection of Somalia's claims as of 13 January 2026.

### What does this mean for the UAE's investment?

Somaliland reaffirmed that all agreements with the UAE remain fully legal, active, and enforceable, according to the statement reported by Somaliland Standard. The report does not establish any subsequent impact.

## Sources

- [Somaliland Rejects Somalia’s Claims Over Berbera Port Agreements with UAE](https://somalilandstandard.com/somaliland-rejects-somalias-claims-over-berbera-port-agreements-with-uae/) — Somaliland Standard, 2026-01-13