Saudi Arabia leads OIC rebuke of Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia, backs Somalia’s unity JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia on Saturday led a forceful pushback within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation against Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia, urging a unified response that reaffirms Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji, representing Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan at an extraordinary OIC session in Jeddah, said…

ADEN, Yemen — The Saudi-led coalition said Wednesday that Aidrous al-Zubaidi, leader of Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council, fled to an unknown location after failing to travel to Saudi Arabia for talks aimed at defusing escalating violence in the country’s south. Date: Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026 Coalition says Zubaidi skipped a planned flight for talks and later “fled” without notifying colleagues Limited pre-emptive strikes reported near al-Zand camp in al-Dhalea to disrupt armed units Presidential Leadership Council moves…

Saudi, Somali foreign ministers reaffirm support for Somalia’s sovereignty in Riyadh talks Monday, Jan. 5, 2026 MOGADISHU — Somalia and Saudi Arabia reaffirmed support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity during high-level talks in Riyadh on Sunday, underscoring a shared commitment to the Horn of Africa nation’s unity and stability amid rising regional tensions. Somali Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Abdisalam Abdi Ali met Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah…

Saudi Arabia called Saturday for talks among rival southern Yemeni factions amid fresh clashes in the resource-rich Hadramawt province, where the United Arab Emirates-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) has seized wide stretches of territory in recent weeks. In a statement posted to social media, the Saudi foreign ministry urged “a comprehensive conference in Riyadh to bring together all southern factions to discuss just solutions to the southern cause.” Riyadh said the Yemeni government had issued the invitation for…

Somalia’s President to Visit Saudi Arabia Amid Shifting Alliances MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is expected to make an official visit to Saudi Arabia later this week, officials said, a trip aimed at consolidating ties with Riyadh as Mogadishu recalibrates its regional alliances across the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea. Somali officials said the agenda will center on strengthening bilateral relations, regional cooperation and security coordination, with both governments looking to formalize a…

AXADLE, Somalia — Warplanes from the Saudi-led coalition struck the port of Mukalla in southeastern Yemen after alleging that weapons unloaded there were bound for the United Arab Emirates–backed Southern Transitional Council, according to officials and international media reports. The coalition had urged civilians to evacuate areas around the port ahead of the strikes, warning the facility could become a new flashpoint in Yemen’s widening conflict. Saudi officials have accused the STC of actions that undermine Yemen’s…

Somalia’s cabinet approves Saudi media and culture pacts as security and local elections take center stage Somalia’s cabinet has approved two new cooperation agreements with Saudi Arabia focused on media and culture, a modest but telling bid to strengthen soft-power ties even as Mogadishu sharpens its attention on security and upcoming local council elections in the Banadir region, home to the capital. The measures were adopted at the government’s weekly meeting chaired by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre in Mogadishu,…

In the bustling city of Riyadh, an urgent summit has convened under the auspices of Saudi Arabia, bringing together voices from across the Arab and Islamic sphere. Among the distinguished attendees is Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who has traveled to Saudi Arabia to address the rising turmoil in Gaza and Lebanon. CREDIT/ Villa Somalia RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AX) — With a backdrop of heightened tension, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud from Somalia touched down in Riyadh this Monday. He joins an assembly of prominent…

General Fayyad al-Ruwaili, the chief of staff for Saudi Arabia's armed forces, is set to make a significant trip to Tehran. His mission? To engage in discussions about defense partnerships with his Iranian counterpart. This information was confirmed by the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff, according to reports in local media. This diplomatic outreach comes on the heels of Donald Trump’s recent election victory, as he prepares to begin his second term as President of the United States in January. Trump has expressed his…

**Mogadishu (AX) — An urgent situation unfolds in Saudi Arabia, where around 50 Somali citizens face capital punishment for alleged drug smuggling. Family members and Somali authorities are fervently seeking clemency, arguing for a reduction of sentences from the grim reality of execution to imprisonment. These individuals, mostly young, initially ventured to Saudi Arabia in search of employment opportunities. They were either coerced or misled into participating in drug trafficking across the Saudi border. Now, with the…