Saudi Arabia affirms its support for Somali unity and rejects parallel entities
As part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to strengthen joint Arab action and coordinate positions on critical issues, the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the League of Arab States, Ambassador Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Matar, held an important meeting today at the delegation’s headquarters in Cairo with the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Somalia to Egypt and its Permanent Representative to the Arab League, Ambassador Ali Abdi Awari.
The meeting witnessed a clear and firm Saudi reaffirmation of the Kingdom's unwavering support for the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and an emphasis on the necessity of preserving its unity and territorial integrity in the face of current challenges. Both sides reiterated their categorical rejection of any attempts to impose parallel entities or unilateral measures that contravene the Somali constitution and threaten the unity of Somalia's national fabric, in a clear indication of their support for the legitimacy of the Federal Government.
This Saudi stance stems from the Kingdom's historical and leading role in supporting the stability of the Horn of Africa, given the region's strategic importance to Arab national security and Red Sea security. Riyadh views the stability of Somalia as an integral part of the stability of the entire region, and therefore, the Kingdom has consistently worked, in all international and regional forums and under the auspices of the League of Arab States, to mobilize international support to enable Somali state institutions to extend their authority over the entire national territory.
In a related context, the two ambassadors discussed a number of issues of mutual interest and explored ways to enhance bilateral cooperation and coordinate positions within the League of Arab States. This coordination is of particular importance given the delicate regional circumstances, which necessitate Arab unity to confront foreign interventions that seek to undermine the sovereignty of Arab states or divide them.
It is worth noting that Saudi-Somali relations are characterized by strength and stability, as the Kingdom provides continuous political, economic and developmental support to Mogadishu, contributing to reconstruction efforts and combating terrorism, which reflects the Kingdom’s permanent commitment to standing by its Arab brothers in their crises until comprehensive security and stability are restored.
