Over recent years, the UAE 🇦🇪 has built an extensive economic and military presence across Somalia’s autonomous & semi-autonomous regions 🇸🇴.

In this thread, I will outline what is known about that presence and explain why the FGS decided to cancel agreements with Abu Dhabi. 🧵 For years, the UAE 🇦🇪 has pursued a “string of ports” strategy to secure the Bab el-Mandeb strait & project power across the Red Sea. This has involved bypassing the Government in Mogadishu to deal directly with autonomous regions such as Puntland, Somaliland, and Jubaland.

The Royal Saudi Air Force 🇸🇦 conducted airstrikes today targeting arms shipments and military vehicles unloaded from two vessels that arrived at Al Mukalla Port in Yemen 🇾🇪 from Fujairah Port, UAE 🇦🇪. The consignments were destined for the Southern Transitional Council (STC).


Royal Saudi Air Force strikes, described as limited and carried out under the umbrella of the Arab-led coalition, targeted arms shipments and military vehicles unloaded from the RoRo vessel Greenland, which arrived at Al Mukalla Port in Yemen a few days ago from Fujairah, UAE 🇦🇪.

Thread ~ What’s happening in Yemen 🇾🇪? Is a new round of conflict becoming imminent? In this thread I’ll summarise and simply explain the current developments that could trigger a fresh escalation, although this time the conflict not involving the Houthis. 1/ This new round of conflict is unfolding in Hadramout, Yemen’s 🇾🇪 largest region, which spans over a third of the country and is rich in oil, accounting for around 80% of Yemen’s oil exports.

Its strategic location, energy wealth, and complex tribal dynamics render it pivotal. 2/

Thread 🧵 ~ In October 2025, I recorded around 68 suspicious cargo aircraft arriving in eastern Libya 🇱🇾 from the UAE 🇦🇪 & Bosaso Airport in Puntland 🇸🇴.

This surge in flights coincides with reports stating that the UAE has doubled its support to the RSF in recent months. 1/ I have compiled a detailed list of these flights, along with brief notes on each series, to help illustrate the scale of this ongoing operation, which has grown since April 2023. In total, 45 cargo flights arrived directly from the UAE 🇦🇪, while 23 originated from Bosaso. 2/

Thread 🧵 ~ Russia 🇷🇺 is expanding its military presence in eastern Libya 🇱🇾, particularly at Khadim Airbase, which holds significant strategic importance. The base serves as a central hub for Russian Africa Corps operations across the continent. 1/ Satellite imagery captured between January & September 2025 reveals significant expansions and upgrades at the base, including the removal of helicopters, jets, and aircraft hangars that were originally constructed by the UAE 🇦🇪 in 2016 when it operated the facility. 2/

Thread ~ UAE 🇦🇪 recruits Colombians to fight alongside the RSF in Sudan 🇸🇩

The recruitment drive, launched by the UAE-based GSSG Security Service Group in late 2024, has so far deployed around 300 to 380 ex-military Colombian fighters to Sudan. 1/12 Colombians were initially recruited by the Panama registered International Services Agency A4SI (Academy for Security Instruction), led by frmr Col Quijano and his wife. They were hiring ex-fighters under the pretext of working as security guards in the UAE & Africa. 2/12

Exclusive: Undisclosed sources have revealed that the UAE 🇦🇪 is recruiting Somali youth from the Puntland region 🇸🇴. They are reportedly being sent to Sudan 🇸🇩, where they are deployed in RSF-controlled areas of Darfur, with promises of a monthly salary between $500 to $1,500. My sources have informed me that the recruitment process began in March, in coordination with clan elders in Bosaso, who are responsible for identifying candidates. The operation is reportedly overseen by PMPF Director and the UAE’s 🇦🇪 head of intelligence.

BIG NEWS ⚠️

UAE-backed Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) has seized the general cargo vessel Sea World, sailing under the Comoros flag, which was carrying a consignment of Turkish military equipment destined for the Somali military (SNA). The ship was brought to Bosaso Port. The Sea World vessel departed Izmir on 28 June and was scheduled to arrive in Mogadishu on 21 July. It is carrying military equipment, including Turkish-made Kirpi MRAP vehicles and Otokar Cobra 4×4 light armoured vehicles, along with ammunition and firearms intended for the SNA.

The #LNA 🇱🇾 is holding a large military parade at the newly established military compound near Benghazi in Eastern Libya. During the event, they unveiled a significant array of Russian military hardware, including Tor-M1/M2 short-range air defence systems and Mi-26 helicopter.


The Russians 🇷🇺 have built up a substantial arsenal of military hardware for the #LNA 🇱🇾, supplying them with what appears to be hundreds of KAMAZ & URAL trucks, VPK-Ural and Tiger 4x4 armoured vehicles.