Somalia, Saudi Arabia align positions at OIC emergency talks in Jiddah
Jiddah, Saudi Arabia — Somalia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ali Mohamed Omar, held a bilateral meeting Friday with Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji on the sidelines of an emergency session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
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The talks coincided with an open-ended Executive Committee session at the level of foreign ministers convened to address recent developments in the Israeli-Palestinian crisis. According to Somali officials, the two sides focused on aligning national positions and reinforcing cooperation within the broader framework of Islamic solidarity, underscoring the need for coordinated action among OIC member states in response to issues affecting Palestinian rights and regional stability.
In addition to the OIC agenda, the diplomats reviewed the state of Somalia-Saudi relations, including cooperation in political, economic and security sectors. Somalia’s Foreign Ministry said Vice Minister Elkhereiji reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s support for Somalia’s sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity, a key priority for Mogadishu as it seeks to consolidate its institutions and deepen ties with regional partners.
The meeting reflected Somalia’s stepped-up diplomatic outreach within the OIC, where Mogadishu has sought to advance its foreign policy priorities while contributing to consensus positions across the Islamic world. With the OIC gathering dedicated to a fast-moving regional crisis, both governments emphasized the value of unified messaging and practical coordination across member states.
Officials did not disclose specific policy proposals discussed in the closed-door talks. However, the emphasis on alignment and sustained engagement indicates both sides are seeking to translate political support into coordinated action in multilateral forums and in bilateral initiatives, particularly in areas where Somalia’s stabilization and development objectives intersect with Gulf partners’ regional diplomacy.
Key points from the meeting:
- Alignment on OIC deliberations regarding the Israeli-Palestinian crisis and the protection of Palestinian rights.
- Review of political, economic and security cooperation between Somalia and Saudi Arabia.
- Saudi reaffirmation of support for Somalia’s sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity, according to Somalia’s Foreign Ministry.
The engagement in Jiddah adds to a string of diplomatic contacts as Somalia positions itself within regional and Islamic multilateral platforms. For Riyadh, the talks reinforced a long-standing partnership that blends bilateral support with cooperation inside the OIC on shared priorities tied to Middle Eastern and African security dynamics.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
