Somalia on Monday signed a defence agreement with Saudi Arabia, as the Horn of Africa becomes an arena for proxy wars between regional powers
The region, strategically located between the Indian Ocean and the Suez Canal on one of the world’s busiest trade routes, has increasingly attracted the interest of the Gulf states.
The agreement comes a month and a half after Israel recognized Somaliland, a breakaway region that seceded from Somalia in 1991 but which Mogadishu and the international community still considers to be under its control.
Somali Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Khalid Bin Salman, signed a “military cooperation agreement” on Monday, according to a message on X from the Somali defence ministry.
“This agreement further strengthens defence and military cooperation between the two nations, while covering various areas of mutual interest for both countries,” it said.
In a separate post on X, Salman added he had “signed and witnessed the signing” of “several” agreements on the sidelines of a military exhibition in Riyadh.
El-Sisi to Somali president : Egypt’s firm support for Somalia’s unity
