UAE plane in Somalia denied permission to take off as relations tumble

Somalia has denied a UAE plane to fly as the government steps up its response to the Gulf monarchy over its support for secessionists in the country.

According to a report by local news website Mareeg, Somali officials refused to let the plan take off after Emirati military training personnel refused to put their heavy luggage through scanners at Bosaso airport.

The UAE foreign ministry has yet to comment on the incident.

Relations between Somalia and the UAE soured June last year when Mogadishu resisted pressure to sever ties with Qatar following a Gulf rift.

Last week, Somalia seized $9.6 million from a United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) Royal Jet airlines carrier that landed in Mogadishu from Abu Dhabi. The seizing of the money stashed in three unmarked bags caused an hours-long standoff between airport officials and UAE embassy staff in Mogadishu.

"The seized money is worth $9.6 million. Security agencies are currently investigating where the money came from, where it was going, the individuals involved and the reason for bringing money worth this amount into the country," Somali interior ministry said in a statement late on Sunday.

The UAE agreed to train separatist security forces in Somaliland last month, and has started to build a military base in the port city, a move strongly condemned by Somali officials. Somaliland is a self-declared state internationally recognized as an autonomous region of Somalia.

Somalia's ambassador to the UN Abukar Osman told the UN Security Council in March that the agreement the UAE signed with the Somaliland Regional Authorities to establish a military base in Berbera was “without the consent of the Somalia” and a “clear violation of international law.”

The Somali government rejected a deal between the UAE’s Dubai World, Somaliland and Ethiopia over Berbera port, describing the deal as violating the territorial integrity of Somalia. All activities of Dubai World were banned and it was decided that it should leave the country as soon as possible. The parliament has dubbed the deal as “null and void.”