Somalia confirms talks on Red Sea security pact with Saudi Arabia, Egypt
MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s federal government has confirmed it is negotiating a proposed three-way security agreement with Saudi Arabia and Egypt focused on Red Sea security and expanded military cooperation, a government spokesperson said.
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The framework, which officials say is still being finalized, is designed to strengthen strategic security coordination, deepen military ties and reinforce the three countries’ joint role in regional stability. The talks underscore Somalia’s effort to reposition its security partnerships around the Red Sea, a vital maritime corridor for trade and energy shipments.
People familiar with the discussions said President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia in the coming days to help conclude the deal, signaling momentum after weeks of quiet diplomacy. No timeline for a formal signing has been announced.
The confirmation follows Somalia’s recent cancellation of security and port agreements with the United Arab Emirates, which Mogadishu accused of violating its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Somali officials cited the transfer of a leader linked to Yemen’s separatist movement from within Somalia without notifying federal authorities as a breach of protocol.
Officials close to the negotiations said Saudi Arabia has pressed Somalia to scale back ties with the UAE, reflecting growing strains between the two Gulf powers despite both being members of the OPEC+ alliance. The rift has been sharpened by disagreements tied to the war in Yemen and a wider contest for regional influence.
Saudi Arabia has long offered political backing for Somalia’s territorial unity and its campaign against al-Shabab, but has not previously provided direct military assistance. If completed, the agreement would mark Riyadh’s first direct role in bolstering Somalia’s security and military capacity, with potential implications across the Horn of Africa.
The Somali government spokesperson said negotiations are ongoing but declined to share details on the scope of planned cooperation or implementation mechanisms. Officials from Saudi Arabia, its Ministry of Defense, and the Egyptian government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In recent years, the UAE has expanded its footprint across Africa in pursuit of economic and political influence and access to strategic ports, moves that have periodically put it at odds with Somalia’s federal leadership. Abu Dhabi has repeatedly said it respects Somalia’s territorial integrity.
The emerging Saudi-Egypt-Somalia track suggests a recalibration of security architecture around the Red Sea at a time of heightened geopolitical competition. For Somalia, the talks offer both an opportunity to attract new security assistance and a diplomatic test as it balances relations among powerful Gulf states whose interests intersect on its shores.
Further details of the proposed Red Sea security pact — including command structures, training, intelligence-sharing and any maritime security components — remain under negotiation, officials said. The anticipated visit by President Mohamud to Saudi Arabia indicates the parties are moving toward a clearer framework, though the contours of any final agreement are not yet public.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
