Saudi Arabia is finalizing an agreement on a new military coalition with Somalia and Egypt, part of its bid to curtail the United Arab Emirates’ regional influence.
Somalian President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud will travel to Saudi Arabia soon to finalize the deal, which aims to foster more strategic collaboration on Red Sea security as well as deeper military cooperation, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.
Somalia this week canceled security and ports agreements with the UAE, accusing the Gulf state of violating its sovereignty by extracting a Yemeni separatist leader through its territory.
Saudi Arabian officials have pushed the Somali government to curb ties with the UAE. Tensions between the two OPEC+ members have risen after the kingdom ordered the UAE to withdraw its troops from Yemen as it seeks to reduce its rival’s sway.
Saudi Arabia has been a staunch supporter of Somalia’s territorial integrity and its fight against the Islamist group Al-Shabaab, although it hasn’t offered much material support so far. The new pact would mark the first time it has sought to directly bolster the East Africa nation’s security and military.
A Somali government spokesperson confirmed a deal was in the works, but declined to comment further. Spokespeople for the Saudi Arabian government and defense ministry didn’t respond to requests for comment. The Egyptian government also didn’t reply to questions about the deal.
The UAE has increased its presence throughout Africa in recent years as it seeks to diversify its economy and bolster its clout abroad, backing military factions seeking power in Libya and Sudan. While it has reaffirmed Somalia’s territorial integrity, it has invested in ports at Berbera in the breakaway state of Somaliland and Bosaso in Puntland.