Eritrea accuses UAE of pursuing ‘port imperialism’ across Africa
In an interview with Middle East Eye, Saleh said the UAE was seeking to establish a wider strategic presence through its involvement in ports and other maritime infrastructure
Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh has accused the United Arab Emirates of pursuing what he called "port imperialism" across Africa, saying Abu Dhabi's investments in maritime facilities have strategic political motives beyond commercial interests.
In an interview with Middle East Eye, Saleh said the UAE was seeking to establish a wider strategic presence through its involvement in ports and other maritime infrastructure.
UAE-backed port operators DP World and AD Ports hold stakes in maritime facilities in countries including Egypt, Tanzania, Somaliland and Puntland. The expansion has faced resistance in parts of the region.
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Djibouti cancelled a concession held by DP World in 2018, while Sudan called off a $6 billion agreement for a Red Sea port in 2022, citing UAE support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Eritrea has also rejected UAE involvement in its ports. It declined a proposal for DP World to manage its ports and rejected a 2016 UAE request to establish a joint UAE-Israel military base on an island in the Dahlak Archipelago.
Relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia have also deteriorated following the breakdown of their tactical alliance during the Tigray civil war. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has pressed for access to the Red Sea while receiving weapons and drone support from the UAE.
Eritrea has become increasingly wary of cooperation between the UAE and Israel in Somaliland and Ethiopia. It subsequently decided to end diplomatic relations with Israel, according to the source, citing concerns about external powers establishing strategic strongholds in the region.
The two countries have also taken opposing positions in Sudan's war. The UAE has been accused of supporting the RSF, while Eritrea has hosted Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
Eritrea has aligned itself with Egypt, Turkey and Saudi Arabia in opposing RSF control, reflecting wider competition among regional powers over influence in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea.
