Puntland and Jubbaland have formally rejected a decision by the Council of Ministers of the Federal Government of Somalia to annul agreements previously concluded with the United Arab Emirates and to order the Emirati authorities to withdraw from the ports of Berbera, Bosaso, and Kismayo.

In separate statements, the administrations of Puntland and Jubbaland said they would not enforce the federal government’s decision, arguing that the agreements in question were entered into independently and fall within their respective constitutional mandates.

Both federal member states maintain that the Provisional Constitution of Somalia grants them the authority to conclude certain agreements, and they cited specific constitutional provisions to justify their position and to challenge the legality of the federal decision to terminate cooperation with the United Arab Emirates.

The stance taken by Puntland and Jubbaland has drawn criticism from political figures and commentators, who accused the two administrations of remaining silent on what they described as Israeli interference in Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity, following Israel’s announcement that it had recognised Somaliland.

Puntland, Jubbaland, and Somaliland are widely regarded as maintaining close political and economic ties with the United Arab Emirates. In this context, Jubbaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Ahmed Madobe) and Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni recently travelled to the United Arab Emirates, where they held meetings with senior Emirati officials. The details and outcomes of those discussions have not yet been disclosed to the public.