Riftvalley
VIP
Fail to see what the big deal here. They will do what they think is right for their national interest,
UAE Adds Somalia, Afghanistan,Lebanon And More On To Their List Of Visa Ban Countries!
- Thread starter Kool-Aid
- Start date
You don't have permission to view the spoiler content.
Log in or register now.
Somaliland Democracy free state vs Failed state of Doomalia
NoticeNoticer
NoticingSomeThings
ill always have massive sympathy for palestinains. I dont even blame them for the Lebanese civil war. Who wouldn't be upset. Your supposed "brothers and sisters" have been left to dry while alien invaders conquer your land bit by bit. Palestinians have every right to be angry and spiteful of arabta as a whole.
Nin bahaan goob ma ahanHow does UAE controls the major ports in Somalia and ban the country at the same time?
Espaa_
Ku sali nabiga {scw}
You don't have permission to view the spoiler content.
Log in or register now.
It's not a lie you can go and you will see Somaliland but Somalia isn't there
reer
VIP
you dont wanna jeopardize your shaqo in dubai. i see you bro.
Riftvalley
VIP
lol. I’m English lad. I can go Dubai anytime I want.
Somalis have always been wary about the Middle East. I grew up hearing a lot of idioms and other things from my elders growing up that showed this mentality. But we had a relationship with the Middle East for well over a thousand years while protecting ourselves from them. For example, Somalia was close with Yemen yet defeated it when they tried to forcibly take over our frankincense trees. Frankincense trade was lucrative in the past and the quality of Somalia's frankincense surpasses Yemen's. After they were defeated, we continued trade and diplomatic ties with Yemen because it was advantageous to us.
Siad Barre also tried to shield Somalia from their negative influence while maintaining diplomatic relations with them. When Gulf countries sent teachers to spread imperialistic Arab ideology as "greater Islamic knowledge", he imprisoned them. It's only after the civil war broke out that some Somalis started to look to the Middle East for guidance and salvation. It's pathetic. Yet it's the Gulf that's funding violent factions in Somalia, devising plans to divide Somalia along with Ethiopia, funding Ethiopia's endeavours to do so, among many other things. Syrians from other violent factions go to Somalia to murder Somalis. Yet you'll still see some Somalis promoting Arab causes over their own, looking to the Gulf for divine guidance, replacing their culture with Arab culture, etc.
One of our obstacles are other Somalis. They either look to the West or Middle East for a way out of destitution. Despite the fact that our current issues are due to the intentional actions of both the West and Gulf to destroy yet another African country for their own gain.
We can't isolate ourselves but we can say no to foreign interference, military and other bases, inordinate foreign influence, etc. We need to undo the damage Wahhabism has done, that's the only way to deal with worship of the Gulf. Secessionists need to be taught to let go of tribalism and worship of Britain and the West. Because many of our issues stem from them, as much as Somalis loath to admit it.
We need to learn to determine which leaders are good for Somalia and which aren't based on their actions and politics. Because currently, Somalis support sell-out politicians because he belongs to a more agreeable tribe and condemn good politicians that could lead us to prosperity because they hate his tribe. We also need to unite rather than fight amongst ourselves, especially at a time when we're facing multiple threats to our sovereignty. What's left of Somalia will become like the NFD (occupied and oppressed by Kenya), Western Somalia (occupied and oppressed by Ethiopia) or Djibouti (a tiny, powerless region that's essentially a parking lot for the world's military bases).
Siad Barre also tried to shield Somalia from their negative influence while maintaining diplomatic relations with them. When Gulf countries sent teachers to spread imperialistic Arab ideology as "greater Islamic knowledge", he imprisoned them. It's only after the civil war broke out that some Somalis started to look to the Middle East for guidance and salvation. It's pathetic. Yet it's the Gulf that's funding violent factions in Somalia, devising plans to divide Somalia along with Ethiopia, funding Ethiopia's endeavours to do so, among many other things. Syrians from other violent factions go to Somalia to murder Somalis. Yet you'll still see some Somalis promoting Arab causes over their own, looking to the Gulf for divine guidance, replacing their culture with Arab culture, etc.
One of our obstacles are other Somalis. They either look to the West or Middle East for a way out of destitution. Despite the fact that our current issues are due to the intentional actions of both the West and Gulf to destroy yet another African country for their own gain.
We can't isolate ourselves but we can say no to foreign interference, military and other bases, inordinate foreign influence, etc. We need to undo the damage Wahhabism has done, that's the only way to deal with worship of the Gulf. Secessionists need to be taught to let go of tribalism and worship of Britain and the West. Because many of our issues stem from them, as much as Somalis loath to admit it.
We need to learn to determine which leaders are good for Somalia and which aren't based on their actions and politics. Because currently, Somalis support sell-out politicians because he belongs to a more agreeable tribe and condemn good politicians that could lead us to prosperity because they hate his tribe. We also need to unite rather than fight amongst ourselves, especially at a time when we're facing multiple threats to our sovereignty. What's left of Somalia will become like the NFD (occupied and oppressed by Kenya), Western Somalia (occupied and oppressed by Ethiopia) or Djibouti (a tiny, powerless region that's essentially a parking lot for the world's military bases).
UAE funds the militias destroying Libya and Sudan. They are the ones who entice SL to be "independent" if they normalize with the Zionists. They are a massive reason why each of these countries are destabilized.
Somalia should Ban all UAE operations at PORTS effective effective immediately
We need another soldier to open fire at UAE officers so they Leave for good
We need another soldier to open fire at UAE officers so they Leave for good
Somalia can't ban UAE they control all the opposition states.
MashAllah TabarakAllah
Idilinaa
VIP
Relax, folks. This isn’t the end of the world, and it’s certainly not unprecedented. The UAE has banned visas for Somalis multiple times before, and they’ve always done so without prior notice or explanation. This isn’t a new playbook.
For example, it happened back in early 2004:
And again in 2020, only to be lifted in 2024:
halqabsi.com
These bans usually come after a political disagreement with Somalia’s Federal Government. The last time, it followed Somalia's neutral stance in the UAE’s regional conflicts and their seizure of unauthorized cash being smuggled through the country (which was eventually returned).
This time, I suspect it’s tied to a dispute between the Federal Government and Puntland over UAE’s dealings there, possibly tied to the UAE’s meddling in Sudan. Both UAE and Sudan officials visited Somalia’s president at the same time, and if it didn’t go the way they hoped, this might be their way of retaliating.
Let’s also keep in mind, the UAE doesn’t control all Somali ports. Bosaso, for example, is fully controlled by Puntland, and DP World only has a minority stake in it, as part of a partnership with the Puntland government. They have a 51% stake in Berbera, which likely explains why Somaliland wasn’t hit with the same ban , they negotiated that deal from a position of weakness, hoping it would lead to international recognition. But this really isn’t a big deal. They can buy back those shares in no time if needed.
Personally, I’m not a fan of the Berbera deal. The UAE imported their own workers, leaving fewer jobs for locals, but that’s the reality of such projects. Long term, the economic benefits should outweigh the initial downsides , if they manage it well.
This forum tends to get all worked up about Arabs being "treacherous" or whatever, but honestly, people need to get over this idea that there’s some special bond or loyalty when it comes to diplomacy. There are no permanent friends, only permanent interests. Politics is transactional, and loyalty doesn’t always come into play the way people expect.
In Somalia, our business class is far more pragmatic than the political elite. They understand how to navigate shifting alliances, diversify risk, and work across regional lines for mutual benefit. Their focus is on self-sufficiency extending their own value chains and cutting out foreign middlemen wherever possible, pooling their capital and cross investing in eachother. They don’t wait around for handouts or ideal conditions; they adapt and build, often quietly and effectively.
When the UAE banned visas, Somali businesses simply adjusted. They set up new export/import hubs and international offices in other countries. They adapted, as they always do.
If anything, this should be a wake-up call for Somali politicians to adopt a similar mindset. Strengthen political cooperation between Somali regions and diversify your trade ties beyond Gulf Arabs/UAE. They shouldn't be one of the few main direct trading partners we have, especially considering that they don't have our long-term interests at heart.
The Somali passport has improved a bit , it's now visa-free or visa-on-arrival in about 35 countries. Not amazing, but it's progress. The government's recent push to get more diaspora to apply for Somali passports, issue national IDs, and introduce e-visas for foreigners is a good move. These things don’t boost passport power overnight, but they help build credibility. Over time, that can lead to more visa-free agreements and a stronger passport ranking.
E-visas are so much better than Visa on arrival, people can't see that it will make border control easier and boost security, it will create better data collections and immigration tracking easier because it will allow Somalia to pre-screen visitors before they arrive.
They will see it as a sign of modern governance, it will create stronger reciprocity and visa negotiations with other countries. Basically a smooth and official e-visa process can attract more tourists, investors, and business travelers, especially from neighboring countries or the diaspora.
So we should look to the bigger long term picture of Somalia's visa sovereignty, trade expansion and not be bothered by this.
For example, it happened back in early 2004:
Somalis hit hard by entry ban
DUBAI - The recent decision to stop issuing entry visas to Somalis by UAE authorities has adversely affected the Somali community that has been expanding constantly for the last five years due to their growing business interests in the country.
www.khaleejtimes.com
And again in 2020, only to be lifted in 2024:
UAE Ends Visa Ban, Opens First Visa Centre in Mogadishu
(28 July 2024) MOGADISHU (Halqabsi News) – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has opened its first visa centre in Mogadishu,
halqabsi.com
These bans usually come after a political disagreement with Somalia’s Federal Government. The last time, it followed Somalia's neutral stance in the UAE’s regional conflicts and their seizure of unauthorized cash being smuggled through the country (which was eventually returned).
This time, I suspect it’s tied to a dispute between the Federal Government and Puntland over UAE’s dealings there, possibly tied to the UAE’s meddling in Sudan. Both UAE and Sudan officials visited Somalia’s president at the same time, and if it didn’t go the way they hoped, this might be their way of retaliating.
Let’s also keep in mind, the UAE doesn’t control all Somali ports. Bosaso, for example, is fully controlled by Puntland, and DP World only has a minority stake in it, as part of a partnership with the Puntland government. They have a 51% stake in Berbera, which likely explains why Somaliland wasn’t hit with the same ban , they negotiated that deal from a position of weakness, hoping it would lead to international recognition. But this really isn’t a big deal. They can buy back those shares in no time if needed.
Personally, I’m not a fan of the Berbera deal. The UAE imported their own workers, leaving fewer jobs for locals, but that’s the reality of such projects. Long term, the economic benefits should outweigh the initial downsides , if they manage it well.
This forum tends to get all worked up about Arabs being "treacherous" or whatever, but honestly, people need to get over this idea that there’s some special bond or loyalty when it comes to diplomacy. There are no permanent friends, only permanent interests. Politics is transactional, and loyalty doesn’t always come into play the way people expect.
In Somalia, our business class is far more pragmatic than the political elite. They understand how to navigate shifting alliances, diversify risk, and work across regional lines for mutual benefit. Their focus is on self-sufficiency extending their own value chains and cutting out foreign middlemen wherever possible, pooling their capital and cross investing in eachother. They don’t wait around for handouts or ideal conditions; they adapt and build, often quietly and effectively.
When the UAE banned visas, Somali businesses simply adjusted. They set up new export/import hubs and international offices in other countries. They adapted, as they always do.
If anything, this should be a wake-up call for Somali politicians to adopt a similar mindset. Strengthen political cooperation between Somali regions and diversify your trade ties beyond Gulf Arabs/UAE. They shouldn't be one of the few main direct trading partners we have, especially considering that they don't have our long-term interests at heart.
The Somali passport has improved a bit , it's now visa-free or visa-on-arrival in about 35 countries. Not amazing, but it's progress. The government's recent push to get more diaspora to apply for Somali passports, issue national IDs, and introduce e-visas for foreigners is a good move. These things don’t boost passport power overnight, but they help build credibility. Over time, that can lead to more visa-free agreements and a stronger passport ranking.
E-visas are so much better than Visa on arrival, people can't see that it will make border control easier and boost security, it will create better data collections and immigration tracking easier because it will allow Somalia to pre-screen visitors before they arrive.
They will see it as a sign of modern governance, it will create stronger reciprocity and visa negotiations with other countries. Basically a smooth and official e-visa process can attract more tourists, investors, and business travelers, especially from neighboring countries or the diaspora.
So we should look to the bigger long term picture of Somalia's visa sovereignty, trade expansion and not be bothered by this.
Last edited:
The average Arab, from any country, does not remotely hate Somalis. Take it from someone who grew up in the Khaleej. They'll usually instantly smile when they realize you're Somali and be very welcoming and even brotherly. The average shacab are chill.
These are their governments and, unlike the west, the Arab shacbiya do not shape their governments by any means. In the case of the UAE, where I was born and raised, it is literally a monarchy. One man—or rather 7 men with one man at the top since it's the world's only federal monarchy—is "the constitution". His whims are everyone's commandments. And yes, don't be shocked that some saaxiibs educated at Sandhurst are basically opps against the rest of the Muslim world:
List of alumni of Sandhurst - Wikipedia
Somalis are a significant business population in the UAE, so this is very interesting...lets see how this turns out
This is actually very true as someone who's lived in the gulf for 6 yearsThe average Arab, from any country, does not remotely hate Somalis. Take it from someone who grew up in the Khaleej. They'll usually instantly smile when they realize you're Somali and be very welcoming and even brotherly. The average shacab are chill.
These are their governments and, unlike the west, the Arab shacbiya do not shape their governments by any means. In the case of the UAE, where I was born and raised, it is literally a monarchy. One man—or rather 7 men with one man at the top since it's the world's only federal monarchy—is "the constitution". His whims are everyone's commandments. And yes, don't be shocked that some saaxiibs educated at Sandhurst are basically opps against the rest of the Muslim world:
List of alumni of Sandhurst - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
Idilinaa
VIP
They banned visas in 2020 and in 2004, what happened mostly is that they would just shift their operations elsewhere including to Somalia. Somali companies/ businesses have multiple international offices and operations now to conduct their trade/business through. They adapted to the situation.
So it won't really affect most of them in the way that people are assuming. Especially since it won't affect existing valid permits, only the issuing of new ones and its temporary.
Last edited:
