Eritrea: Eritrea Accuses UAE of Port-Based Colonialism in Africa

What the report says

Eritrea has accused the United Arab Emirates of pursuing what it calls “port-based colonialism” in Africa, with particular concern over Emirati involvement in strategic ports around the Horn of Africa, including Somalia. The comments were reported by Shabelle Media Network and distributed by AllAfrica, with the dispute centered on how Gulf states are extending their reach across Red Sea and Gulf of Aden shipping routes.

According to the report, Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh said UAE activity at ports in the region went beyond normal business interests and should be viewed as having strategic aims. Eritrea singled out UAE-linked companies, especially DP World, which operates Berbera port in Somaliland and has been involved in the development and management of Bosaso port in Puntland. Both locations are seen as important because of their proximity to major maritime corridors linking the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.

The article also said Eritrea has previously rejected reported attempts by DP World to establish a presence in the country and opposed plans tied to a possible UAE military facility on the Dahlak Islands. It noted that the UAE once operated a base in Assab, and that Somalia’s federal government has objected to port deals made without its approval. More broadly, the report reflects growing competition in the Horn of Africa, where commercial investment, security interests and regional influence increasingly overlap.