Dubai: The UAE on Tuesday condemned Somali authorities for seizing an Emirati civilian aircraft at Mogadishu airport.
Somali authorities also reportedly seized money that was in the aircraft.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said 47 members of the Emirati armed forces were onboard the aircraft when it was seized by Somali authorities at gunpoint.
The incident happened after some Somali security members reportedly disrespected the passengers and seized the funds that were originally allocated to support the Somali army.
In a statement, the ministry said the funds were allocated to support the Somali army and pay their salaries as per a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on military cooperation, signed between the two countries in November, 2014.
"The impounded money, allocated to support the Somali army and trainees, was seized at gunpoint by Somali security personnel, who disrespected some members of the UAE forces," the statement said.
“The act is illegal and violates diplomatic traditions and norms between countries, and is a flagrant violation of the provisions of the MoU signed between the UAE and Somalia, and eventually is a violation of international law and norms,” the ministry said.
“The UAE condemns such a violation although it provided all forms of political, economic military and humanitarian support to Somalia in the darkest of its circumstances in order to consolidate the security and stability in Somali,” the ministry said in its statement.
With inputs from WAM
