Eritrea Accuses UAE of Port-Based Colonialism in Somalia

Asmara, Eritrea — Eritrea has accused the United Arab Emirates of pursuing what it described as "port-based colonialism" across Africa, raising particular concerns over Abu Dhabi's expanding influence around strategic ports in the Horn of Africa, including Somalia. Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh said the UAE's presence at ports across the region went beyond commercial interests and involved strategic objectives that African governments should scrutinise closely. Eritrea pointed to the prominent role of UAE-owned companies, particularly DP World, in the Horn of Africa. The company operates the port of Berbera in Somaliland and has also been involved in the development and management of the port of Bosaso in Somalia's Puntland region. The ports are strategically located near the Gulf of Aden and major maritime routes linking the Red Sea with the Indian Ocean, making them increasingly important in regional trade and security. Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines Asmara said it had previously rejected attempts linked to DP World establishing a presence in Eritrea and opposed reported plans for the UAE to establish a military facility on the Dahlak Islands. The UAE previously operated a military base in the Eritrean port city of Assab, which played an important role in Saudi-led military operations in Yemen. Somalia has emerged as a particular focus of the wider debate because of its long coastline and strategic position along the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, close to the Red Sea shipping corridor. The UAE's involvement in Somali ports has become politically sensitive, particularly because of its ties with Somaliland and Puntland. Somalia's federal government has repeatedly objected to major port agreements and investments being concluded without the involvement of the central government. Eritrea also criticised the UAE's relations with Ethiopia and Israel, warning that foreign powers were expanding their influence in the Horn of Africa at a time of heightened political tensions and security challenges. The dispute highlights growing competition over the Horn of Africa's ports, where commercial investment, military interests and geopolitical influence increasingly overlap. It also underscores a broader question in Somalia over which authorities have the power to negotiate major agreements involving the country's ports and maritime resources, as competition around the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden continues to reshape the region's strategic landscape. Read the original article on Shabelle . UAE Building 'Relationships of Dependence' Through Investment Across Africa AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 90 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals , representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica . To address comments or complaints, please Contact us . AllAfrica is a voice of, by and about Africa - aggregating, producing and distributing 600 news and information items daily from over 90 African news organizations and our own reporters to an African and global public. We operate from Cape Town, Dakar, Abuja, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington DC. Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy . We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.