Somalia, Saudi Arabia Sign Military Cooperation Agreement
Somalia has signed a military cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia as part of its push to strengthen regional alliances amid rising tensions over Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland.
The memorandum of understanding was signed in Riyadh on Monday by Somalia’s Minister of Defence, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defence, Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. Somalia’s Ministry of Defence said the agreement is aimed at strengthening defence and military cooperation between both countries and covers several areas of shared strategic interest, although specific details were not disclosed.
Prince Khalid confirmed the signing in a post on social media.
The agreement comes weeks after Somalia concluded a similar defence pact with Qatar, focused on military training, exchange of expertise, development of defence capabilities, and enhanced security cooperation. Doha said the deal was designed to serve mutual interests and promote regional stability.
Somalia’s recent diplomatic engagements follow Israel’s recognition of Somaliland in December, a move that has heightened tensions in the Horn of Africa. Mogadishu has warned that Israel intends to establish a military base in Somaliland, a development Somalia says threatens its sovereignty and regional security.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has vowed that Somalia will not permit the establishment of any Israeli military presence in Somaliland and would confront any such attempt. A Somaliland official had earlier indicated that the possibility of hosting an Israeli base was under discussion.
Meanwhile, Somalia last month cancelled all agreements with the United Arab Emirates, including port operations and security and defence deals, citing actions that undermine its national unity and political independence. The decision followed reports alleging that the UAE facilitated Israel’s recognition of Somaliland.
The UAE, which maintains strong economic and security ties with Somaliland, denied the claims and rejected accusations linking it to regional instability. Abu Dhabi has also denied allegations of supporting armed groups in Sudan, where conflict has continued for nearly three years.
Somalia’s latest military partnership with Saudi Arabia underscores its efforts to bolster regional support as geopolitical tensions intensify across the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea corridor
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