Somalia cuts diplomatic ties with UAE after Yemen separatist leader enters via Somaliland

Somalia has ended its diplomatic relationship with the United Arab Emirates. The Somali government called it the 'last straw' after a Yemeni separatist leader, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, illegally entered Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland, which the UAE reportedly helped facilitate.

Saudi Arabia, which leads a military coalition in Yemen, has accused the UAE of smuggling al-Zubaidi out of Yemen. Al-Zubaidi leads the Southern Transitional Council, a UAE-backed group that wants southern Yemen to become independent. Saudi Arabia has invited Yemeni factions for new talks as tensions between Saudi and UAE policies in the region grow.