Somaliland/Saudi Arabia – Somalia’s breakaway northern territory of Somaliland has said the UAE can establish a military base in its territory. The UAE government in January submitted a formal application seeking permission from the Somaliland government to open a military base in the port town of Berbera. The parliament of Somaliland on the 12 Feb 17 approved the UAE plan. The plan is controversial and the neighbouring countries of Ethiopia and Djibouti are opposed to it, according to local reports. In Sunday’s vote 144 lawmakers were in favour of the military base, two voted against and two abstained. Nine others opposed to the base shouted against President Ahmed Silanyo and were led out of the chamber by soldiers. Silanyo had spoken in favour of the base, saying it would create jobs in Somaliland. The plan follows a multimillion dollar, 30-year contract for UAE’s international ports operator, DP World, to manage Somaliland’s largest port, Berbera. The former British protectorate of Somaliland declared a unilateral independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991 and has succeeded in establishing peace and stability. But no country has so far recognized it as an independent state. 361 COMMENT: By having a military shipping port in Somalia the Saudi Government is in an excellent position to police the Yemen area of the Bab al Mandab and the Gulf of Aden therefore shutting off an Iranian supply route for the Shiite Houthi group. COMMENT ENDS