By HAN News Desk
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Tuesday met with Somalia’s Foreign Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali in Riyadh, as the kingdom steps up diplomatic engagement in the Horn of Africa amid growing regional tensions.
According to official statements, the talks focused on Saudi Arabia’s support for Somalia, as well as the importance of safeguarding Somalia’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. The two ministers also discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations and coordinate on regional security challenges.
The meeting comes at a sensitive time for Somalia, which has been seeking regional and international backing amid diplomatic disputes and security challenges linked to instability in the Horn of Africa.
Separately, Djibouti’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Dya-Eddine Saïd, met with Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Walid bin Abdul Karim at the Saudi Foreign Ministry headquarters. Saïd, who has served as Djibouti’s envoy to the kingdom since 2002, holds full authority to represent President Ismail Omar Guelleh, according to diplomatic sources.
Saudi officials did not disclose details of the Djibouti talks, and it remains unclear whether the two meetings were formally connected. However, analysts say the back-to-back engagements reflect Saudi Arabia’s growing interest in playing a more active diplomatic role in the Horn of Africa, a region of increasing strategic importance due to Red Sea security, trade routes and geopolitical competition.
Saudi Arabia has in recent years expanded its political and security engagement across East Africa, positioning itself as a key regional actor amid rival diplomatic initiatives by other Middle Eastern and global powers.
Neither Somali nor Djiboutian officials immediately commented on whether future trilateral or regional discussions are planned.
