Somalia: Federal government opposes deal to build military base in Barbara

MOGADISHU, Somalia- The country’s General Auditor Nur Jimale Farah has slammed Somaliland’s deal with United Arab Emirates (UAE) to build military base in Barbara port city in northwestern region, Garowe Online reports.

During a special interview with VOA Somali service, Farah described the deal as “illegal” and against the law for a regional administration to reach a military agreement.

The deal was reported to cause stir in Somaliland’s Parliament, however, joint Houses have agreed to the deal following voting session as majority of the Parliament voted in favor of the deal.    

“The agreement initiated last year, and started with DP world interest to manage Barbara port, but there were some disagreement and this came now,” said Farah.

He added that officials from Federal government and Somaliland have held talks to agree on the deal but later was suspended following dispute.

Farah noted that following the suspension of the port deal, some officials from Somaliland administration pursued UAE government to establish the military base in Barbara.

This comes after Somaliland President Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo, has presented the deal to a joint session of both houses of the parliament on Sunday, and argued the agreement will attract development and investment to Somaliland region.

Somaliland located in the northwestern of Somalia, has declared its independence from the rest of Somalia as de facto sovereign state in 1991 but it has not been recognized internationally.

GAROWEONLINE