Somalia: Senate approves legislation banning DP World from country

MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somalia’s Upper House of Parliament on Thursday approved legislation banning the UAE ports operator DP World from operating anywhere in the Horn of Africa country, Garowe Online reports.

According to Senate speaker Abdi Hashi Abdullahi, 28 senators out of 36 attended the second seat of the 3rd session of the Upper House voted in favor of the legislation, 6 rejected, while 2 abstained.

The new bill awaits now the ascension of the President of the Federal Government of Somalia, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo who will sign it into law that finally forces the DP World out of Somalia.

The vote came following day-day heated debate led to a deadlock over the approval of the Senators who represent the Federal Member States, some in port agreement with the DP World.

Last Monday, the lower House Chamber of Parliament backed the Federal government’s rejection of the tripartite Berbera port deal between Somaliland and DP World which grant Ethiopia a 19 percent stake.

The House has declared the deal as "null and void” and called for the ban of DP World from Somalia, an act which the MPs said was aimed to protect the sovereignty and the Unity of Somali Nation.

It is unclear how Mogadishu would enforce the approved legislation, nor whether the President will assent to it. 

The move comes as Farmajo is expected to pay an official visit to Qatar next week which is in a diplomatic dispute with Saudi-UAE led Arab countries since June 5, 2017.

The Parliament of the northern breakaway Somaliland approved the partnership with DP World in 2016, paving the way for the UAE's port operator to invest $442 million to rebuild the Port of Berbera and manage it through a 30-year concession.

GAROWE ONLINE