Somalia And Saudi Arabia Reaffirm Ties As Foreign Ministers Meet In Riyadh
Somalia’s foreign minister met his Saudi counterpart in Riyadh on Sunday, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity amid growing regional and diplomatic tensions.
Somali Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Abdisalam Abdi Ali held talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah Al Saud during an official visit to the kingdom, according to statements from both governments.
During the meeting, Abdisalam thanked Saudi Arabia for what he described as its consistent and principled support for Somalia, praising Riyadh’s stance in backing the country’s unity and stability.
He expressed “deep appreciation” for the kingdom’s solidarity with the Somali people and its continued support for Somalia’s sovereignty at regional and international levels, the Somali Foreign Ministry said.
Prince Faisal reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s full support for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, stressing the kingdom’s commitment to Somalia’s security and long-term stability. He emphasized Saudi Arabia’s rejection of any actions that could undermine those principles.
The talks also covered ways to strengthen bilateral relations across a range of sectors, including political cooperation and development, as well as discussions on regional developments and issues of shared concern.
Saudi Arabia has long been a key partner for Somalia, providing diplomatic backing, humanitarian assistance and development support. The meeting comes as Somalia seeks to shore up international support for its territorial integrity following Israel’s controversial decision to recognize Somaliland, a move Mogadishu has strongly rejected.
Officials did not announce any specific agreements following the talks, but both sides described the meeting as constructive and reaffirmed their intention to deepen cooperation.
Ali Hassan, an investigative and a freelance journalist writes from Stadthagen, Germany.