The illegal siege of Qatar by Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE is now nearing its third month. 

With Qatar showing no signs of capitulating, the blockading nations have been trying to increase the pressure by trying to rope in more nations to their side. However, it has not been very successful.     

There are now indications that the Gulf crisis has started to affect Africa as well.  

Saudi Arabia had recently called on a number of countries, including Somalia, to join its boycott of Qatar, but not every country is prepared to obey orders from Riyadh, reported Gulf Times.

Although Saudi and UAE offered the government in Mogadishu an additional €68m to join the boycott of Qatar, the Somali president turned down the offer and decided to side with Qatar.

Somalian President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has now called on all countries involved to engage in a dialogue. And much to the annoyance of Qatar’s neighbours, he is also allowing Qatari planes to pass through Somali airspace, reported All Africa. 

Somalia’s actions have weakened the boycott imposed by the four countries.

Tensions remain high because the UAE is exerting more influence in the regions of Somaliland and Puntland. Although both regions declared their independence, the government in Mogadishu still considers them part of Somalia. The UAE is building ports there and wants to establish a military base. 

Meanwhile, the autonomous Somali state of Puntland called on Somalia’s federal government to change its neutral position due to the good relations it has with Saudi Arabia and UAE, reported Africa News.

“We urge the Federal Government of Somalia to reconsider its position regarding the impending crisis which, if not addressed properly, will have lasting and negative consequences for the people of Somalia,” Puntland said in a statement.

“We believe our position is to clearly stand with our partners, namely Saudi Arabia and the UAE,” it added while calling for an end to the crisis.

BREAKING: #Puntland sides with #Saudi Arabia & #UAE against #Qatar, calls on #Somali Govt to reconsider its neutral position on Gulf crisis pic.twitter.com/5EBhPw5pDq

— Garowe Online (@radiogarowe) August 16, 2017

Hirshabelle State of #Somalia region cuts ties with Qatar a day after another state #Puntland announced the same. pic.twitter.com/1LqqgqDXQF

— Yassin Juma (@Yassinjuma) August 17, 2017

Some African countries had already taken sides in the diplomatic row. Chad recently gave Qatar’s embassy officials 10 days to leave the country. Qatar retaliated by closing the Chadian embassy in Doha and giving them 72 hours to leave.

A week ago, Senegal had decided to send its ambassador back to Doha, after being previously summoned for consultation.

Photo courtesy: Intelligence Briefs