Somalia returns $9.6M seized 2018 to UAE as PM left for Abu Dhabi

In January 2022, Prime Minister Roble ordered the release of the UAE money from the central bank and it was stopped by the outgoing president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, who is a close ally of Qatar.

News Keydmedia Online
19 May 2022

MOGADISHU, Somalia – The prime minister of Somalia Mohamed Hussein Roble has released $9.6 million US dollars seized at Mogadishu airport in April 2018 from a UAE plane.

The office of the PM announced that the money was handed over to the government of the United Arab Emirates before Roble flew to Abu Dhabi on Thursday. This came after a leadership change in Somalia.

The outgoing premier will join world leaders in UAE in paying final respects to the late President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan who May 13, 2022, following an illness.

The statement further said Roble will convey a message of greeting from new Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to the new President of the United Arab Emirates Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

In January 2022, Prime Minister Roble ordered the release of the UAE money from the central bank and it was stopped by the outgoing president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, who is a close ally of Qatar.

The seizure of the $9.6 million in cash by NISA at the airport has prompted the UAE to end a military training mission in Somalia. Emirati foreign ministry thanked PM Roble for his “initiative” to settle the dispute.

The row came as the Gulf states' rivalry that began in 2017 was deeply felt in Somalia, where wealthy Arab sheikhdoms have poured millions of dollars and vied for power and profits in recent years.

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