Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed ordered the governor of the central bank against releasing “illicit” money worth nearly 10 million U.S. dollars on Friday.
The money was seized in 2018 by Somali Security forces at the Adan Adde International Airport from the United Arab Emirates .
The news was released presidential palace Communications Director Abdirashid Mohamed Hashi through a post on Twitter.
Orders from the president came after Prime Minister Hussein Roble made a public apology to the UAE for the seizure stating that the government will return the money.
The money, kept at the Central Bank, has led to a strain in diplomatic relations between both countries which saw the UAE close a military facility and hospital in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu.
CGTN