SOMALIA announced that it was cancelling all agreements with the United Arab Emirates over alleged sovereignty violations.

Authorities say the agreements, which span key port operations, security co-operation and defence, have been stopped because of “harmful actions” of the UAE that undermine Somalia’s unity and sovereignty.

The announcement is clearly linked to Israel’s recognition in December of Somaliland, a self-declared independent region in north-western Somalia that broke away in 1991, said Abdinor Dahir, an independent Somalia analyst.

He told Al Jazeera that “many Somalis believe the UAE facilitated Israel’s recognition of Somaliland.”

In December, the UAE declined to sign a joint Arab-Islamic statement condemning Israel’s recognition of Somaliland. But on January 7 it released a joint statement with the African Union pledging “support for Somalia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and stability.”

Earlier this week the Somalian’s accused the Israelis of recognising Somaliland so that it can dump Palestinians out of Gaza and the West Bank into the territory.

But Somaliland’s Minister of the Presidency Khadar Hussein Abdi accused Somalia of “day dreaming” and that its announcement changes nothing.

“The UAE is a trusted friend of Somaliland. They invested in Berbera when others doubted us. We are a nation of principles, and we stand by our friends.”

There has been no immediate comment from the UAE.