Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met with Saudi Arabia’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Engineer Waleed bin Abdulkarim El-Khereiji, in Kampala on Tuesday to discuss bolstering security cooperation and humanitarian support for crisis-affected communities.
The talks, held on the sidelines of a regional summit in the Ugandan capital, underscore Mogadishu’s renewed push for strategic alliances as Somali forces lead a major offensive against Al-Shabaab militants. For Saudi Arabia, the engagement reaffirms its long-standing role as a key diplomatic and donor partner in the Horn of Africa, a region facing twin threats from extremism and climate-induced disasters.
According to an official readout from the Somali presidency, President Hassan Sheikh reiterated Somalia’s commitment to deepening ties with the Kingdom. The two sides exchanged views on regional security developments and ways to coordinate counter-terrorism efforts.
The Saudi vice minister reportedly reaffirmed Riyadh’s unwavering position on Somalia’s territorial integrity and unity. He also acknowledged progress made by Somali security forces in reclaiming territory from Al-Shabaab.
On the humanitarian front, officials discussed expanding relief mechanisms for communities hit by recurrent droughts and floods. Saudi Arabia has been one of the largest Gulf donors to Somalia’s emergency response efforts in recent years.
No further details on specific action plans or financial commitments have been released. President Hassan Sheikh is expected to continue his engagements in Kampala before returning to Mogadishu later this week.