Somalia seals defence MoU with Saudi Arabia

Somalia and Saudi Arabia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on military cooperation. In a statement posted on the official account of Somalia’s Ministry of Defence, the government announced that the Minister of Defence of the Federal Government of Somalia, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, signed the agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defence, Prince Khalid bin Salman. According to the statement, the agreement “aims to strengthen defence and military cooperation between the two nations” and covers “several areas of mutual interest.”

The agreement comes amid major shifts in Somalia’s regional alliances. Last month, Somalia’s federal government announced it was scrapping all agreements with the United Arab Emirates, citing concerns over “national sovereignty and security.” The decision was made during an emergency cabinet meeting and applies to all forms of cooperation with the UAE, including security, defence, and port-related arrangements.

Somalia’s officials said the move followed what they described as clear evidence of “destabilising actions intended to undermine the country’s unity and political independence.” Mogadishu denied claims that the decision was made “under pressure” from external actors.

The cancellation of UAE agreements occurred against the backdrop of increased regional tensions. It coincided with Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, a move condemned by Somalia and opposed by several regional and international actors. The decision also followed allegations that the UAE facilitated the movement of a Yemeni separatist leader through Somalia. The developments reflect the growing rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over influence in Yemen and the Horn of Africa.

In mid-January, Bloomberg reported that Saudi Arabia was close to finalising a broader military cooperation agreement involving Somalia and Egypt, aimed at countering the expanding regional influence of the UAE. According to the report, the proposed deal would enhance strategic, military, and intelligence coordination among the three countries.

The latest military cooperation comes at a time when Riyadh is recalibrating its posture in the region. Saudi Arabia has recently adopted a tougher stance on the conflict in Sudan, openly accusing the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of violating humanitarian agreements and characterizing their actions as criminal. This shift marks a departure from its previously more cautious approach and signals a growing willingness to take clearer political positions on regional crises. At the same time, Riyadh has increasingly positioned itself in opposition to the United Arab Emirates’ expanding and deeply entrenched presence across the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region. UAE support for the RSF has been widely documented by international observers and media outlets, despite Abu Dhabi’s continued denials. Against this backdrop, Saudi Arabia’s latest agreements with Somalia reflect a broader strategic adjustment, as Riyadh seeks to project a more assertive regional policy, and reassert its influence amid intensifying geopolitical competition.