UAE Initiates Water Well Projects in Former Al-Shabab Areas

On 25 November 2023, Mustaqbal Media reported that the United Arab Emirates was initiating projects in areas of Somalia formerly controlled by Al-Shabab, with a primary focus on establishing water wells. The report, which remains the only documented public record of this initiative, does not establish what has happened since that date.

The report said UAE Ambassador to Somalia Ahmed Al-Rumaithi recently signed an agreement affirming the UAE government's commitment to support various initiatives in regions previously occupied by Al-Shabab. Before the signing, Al-Rumaithi held a special meeting with Somalia's Minister of Energy & Water Resources, accompanied by the Chairman of the National Disaster Management Agency (SODMA).

Mustaqbal Media stated that digging water wells is among the key UAE initiatives in these areas, intended to ensure access to clean water for local populations. The Somali Minister and SODMA Chairman thanked the UAE government and people for their collaborative efforts in advancing the well-being of Somali communities.

The report does not specify a date for the agreement, its counterparty, any funding amount, the number of wells planned or dug, their locations, costs, contractors, or a project timeline. It also does not record the names of the Somali Minister of Energy & Water Resources or the SODMA Chairman. The agency itself is referred to as both the National Disaster Management Agency SODMA and the National Disaster Management & Organization (SODMA) in the same report.

The government of Prime Minister Hamsa Abdi Barre has separately emphasised its commitment to implementing projects in areas formerly under Al-Shabab control, according to the same report. However, no evidence is presented that any wells have been dug, contracts awarded, or funds disbursed since the November 2023 announcement.