Saudi Arabia and Somalia forge new military cooperation pact

2026-02-09 - 10:05

Somalia and Saudi Arabia have entered into a formal military cooperation agreement, the Somali Defense Ministry announced on Monday. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, by defense ministers Ahmed Moallim Fiqi of Somalia and Prince Khalid bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, marking a significant step in bilateral relations. A broad strategic partnership The newly signed defense pact is designed to strengthen military collaboration across multiple areas of mutual interest. According to statements from Mogadishu, the partnership extends beyond bilateral ties and aims to contribute to enhanced regional stability and security, particularly in the critical waterways of the Red Sea. This aligns with Saudi Arabia's strategic interests in maintaining secure maritime routes. Regional context and Somali objectives The agreement comes amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Horn of Africa. Somalia's diplomatic and security outreach has intensified following recent international engagements concerning its breakaway region, Somaliland. The Somali government is actively seeking advanced technical support and military hardware from partner nations to defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty, making the Riyadh agreement a key component of its strategic defense planning. Implications for regional security The military MoU signifies Saudi Arabia's deepening engagement in Horn of Africa security affairs. For Somalia, closer ties with the kingdom offer potential for greater diplomatic backing and defense capacity building. The partnership reflects a shared interest in countering regional instability and underscores the ongoing realignment of security cooperation networks in the Middle East and East Africa.