MOGADISHU — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud held separate telephone calls with the King of Jordan and the Amir of Qatar as regional tensions spiked following Iranian missile strikes, the presidency said Monday.
In statements issued by Villa Somalia, the president and his counterparts discussed the deteriorating security climate across the Middle East and stressed the need to reduce tensions and intensify diplomatic efforts to preserve stability. The Somali leader reaffirmed Mogadishu’s support for both Jordan and Qatar, describing the strikes as violations of international law and a threat to broader regional peace.
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Hassan Sheikh also praised what he called a unified Arab position in response to the crisis, arguing that attacks on the sovereignty of Arab states undermine stability and obstruct efforts toward de-escalation. His outreach to Amman and Doha aligns Somalia with key Gulf and Levant partners as governments across Africa and the Arab world warn of the risk that the confrontation could spiral into a wider conflict.
Somalia’s Foreign Ministry in recent days formally condemned Iranian strikes that targeted several Arab countries, listing Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain and Oman. Mogadishu said it supports those states’ right to take lawful measures to protect their territory and citizens.
The government notice did not reference the United Arab Emirates. The omission comes amid ongoing political tensions between Somalia and the UAE that have strained bilateral relations in recent years. Somali officials did not provide an explanation for the exclusion.
The latest escalation follows a series of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, which were met by retaliatory attacks from Tehran. The exchange has deepened fears over miscalculation and spillover, prompting stepped-up diplomacy across the region to keep communication channels open and avoid a broader war that could disrupt trade, energy flows and security cooperation.
Somalia maintains close diplomatic and economic ties with multiple Gulf states and relies heavily on regional partners for investment, humanitarian support and employment opportunities for its citizens abroad. In that context, Mogadishu has increasingly echoed Arab capitals in calling for restraint, while condemning actions viewed as breaches of sovereignty and international norms.
Villa Somalia did not disclose additional details about the timing or duration of the president’s calls with Jordan’s king and Qatar’s amir, nor did it outline any specific follow-on steps beyond continued engagement. However, the presidency framed the outreach as part of Somalia’s broader effort to support de-escalation and uphold the rules-based order amid fast-moving developments.
As the situation remains fluid, Somali authorities say they are monitoring the security environment and maintaining contact with regional partners. Officials reiterated that Somalia’s position — support for affected Arab states, condemnation of cross-border strikes, and backing for diplomatic solutions — reflects the country’s long-standing emphasis on state sovereignty and stability in the greater Middle East.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
