In brief
- On May 30, 2017, Goobjoog News reported a demonstration outside the UAE Embassy in Mogadishu over alleged unpaid wages and building materials.
- The report claimed three UAE-run centres were built, but no evidence since that date establishes any resolution or official response.
- All details, including the claim that almost ninety suppliers and workers are owed money, come solely from that single report.
On May 30, 2017, Goobjoog News reported that Somali citizens had staged a public demonstration in front of the UAE Embassy in Mogadishu, Somalia, over alleged unpaid dues for construction work and building materials.
According to the report, the demonstrators complained that embassy officials had failed to pay casual labourers and local companies that supplied materials for the construction of the embassy and two additional centres. The report stated that three centres had been constructed in Mogadishu and are run by the United Arab Emirates, and that casual labourers who carried out manual work had not been paid their dues as of that date.
The report also claimed that the UAE Embassy had not responded to demands from the suppliers and workers, who numbered almost ninety. Some embassy officials, as reported by Goobjoog News, stated that the person responsible for payments was outside the country.
Goobjoog News did not provide documentation to support the claims, such as invoices, contracts, or employment records. The value of the alleged unpaid building materials was not quantified beyond a vague reference to "millions of dollars," and no total amount owed was established. The report also did not specify the exact number of workers versus suppliers among the group of almost ninety.
Since the date of the report, no further information has been published by Goobjoog News or any other cited source regarding the outcome of the demonstration, any payment resolution, legal action, or official response from the UAE Embassy. The report does not establish whether the embassy or another UAE entity is the responsible payer for the alleged debts.
Frequently asked questions
What payments are alleged to be overdue?
As reported by Goobjoog News, casual labourers who did manual construction work and local companies that supplied building materials claim they were not paid for work on three centres in Mogadishu run by the United Arab Emirates.
How has the UAE Embassy addressed the claims?
According to Goobjoog News on May 30, 2017, the UAE Embassy had not responded to the demands of the suppliers and workers. Some embassy officials reportedly said the person responsible for payments was outside the country.
What contractors are involved?
The report does not name any contractors or developers. It only refers to casual labourers and local companies that provided building materials.