By HAN News Desk
MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Minister of Defence, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, has received the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Somalia, Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Muwallad, during an official meeting held at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Mogadishu.
The meeting focused on enhancing bilateral relations, deepening security cooperation, and expanding Saudi Arabia’s ongoing support to Somalia’s stabilisation efforts. Minister Fiqi praised the Kingdom for its “significant and consistent role” in supporting Somalia across key sectors, particularly defence, counterterrorism, and capacity-building for the Somali Armed Forces.
According to officials from the ministry, the Minister emphasised that Saudi Arabia’s assistance has been vital in strengthening the operational readiness of Somalia’s military forces and improving their ability to combat extremist groups such as Al-Shabaab. He noted that the Kingdom has contributed to training programmes, military equipment support, and broader initiatives aimed at professionalising the Somali National Army.
Minister Fiqi highlighted that such cooperation has not only supported Somalia’s internal stability but has also contributed to wider peace and security across the Horn of Africa. He reiterated Somalia’s commitment to expanding its strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia, describing the Kingdom as a “key ally” in the fight against terrorism and in efforts to build a resilient national defence sector.
Ambassador Al-Muwallad reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s readiness to continue supporting Somalia’s security institutions and expressed appreciation for the progress Somalia has made in state-building and counterterrorism operations. He also conveyed the Kingdom’s commitment to strengthening political, developmental, and humanitarian cooperation with Mogadishu.
The meeting concluded with both sides agreeing to explore new avenues of collaboration, particularly in military training, intelligence sharing, regional security coordination, and initiatives aimed at boosting the long-term stability of Somalia.
