Africa-Press. Somalia has announced the signing of a military and defense cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, in a move that comes amid sharp regional rivalries and as the Horn of Africa increasingly becomes a field of competition and influence.
In a statement, Somalia’s Ministry of Defense said Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi signed the agreement in Riyadh with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Khalid bin Salman.
The statement said the agreement enhances military and defense cooperation in several areas “to the benefit of both countries.”
Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman, for his part, confirmed the signing of several agreements and letters of intent on the sidelines of a military exhibition in Riyadh, without providing further details on the provisions of the deal with Mogadishu. The agreement comes after Somalia canceled all its agreements with the United Arab Emirates last January.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said the two defense ministers signed a memorandum of understanding between their ministries to cooperate in the military field, without offering additional specifics.
This is the second such agreement Somalia has signed recently with a Gulf country. Last month, Mogadishu concluded a “defense cooperation” agreement with Qatar aimed at strengthening military relations and developing frameworks for security coordination and cooperation between the two sides.
Shifts in the Horn of Africa
Observers say the recent Somali–Saudi rapprochement comes amid a broader regional realignment, particularly in light of Emirati moves in the Horn of Africa, especially after Israel recognized the separatist Somaliland region about a month and a half ago, and as the UAE deepens its economic and security ties with the region.
Relations between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi have also shown signs of public strain, highlighted recently after Saudi Arabia struck a weapons shipment suspected of being bound for Yemen from the UAE.
The Horn of Africa—which includes Ethiopia, Somalia, Somaliland, Djibouti, and Eritrea, and borders Sudan—holds exceptional strategic importance due to its position overlooking the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, and its proximity to the entrance of the Suez Canal, one of the world’s busiest global trade routes.
