Iranian diplomats given 72 hrs as Somalia, Djibouti sever ties
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- Posted On 07-01-2016, 06:19PM
MOGADISHU, Somalia, January 7, 2016 (Garowe Online)-Somalia’s Federal Government has ordered Iranian diplomats to leave the country within 72 hours as tensions escalate in Mideast over ransacking of Saudi embassy in Tehran, Garowe Online reports.
In a press statement released shortly after a meeting by Council of Ministers in Mogadishu, Somalia which has earlier called attack on Saudi embassy ‘apparent violation’ of diplomatic norms officially announced suspension of all diplomatic cooperation with Shiite power Iran.
Similar step has been taken by Djibouti, a strategic East African country on the Red Sea, and that also hosts military bases for U.S. and France in light of diplomatic crisis spurred by execution of prominent Shi’ite cleric alongside 46 others, mostly Sunnis convicted of terrorism.
The traditionally Sunni majority countries in the horn have followed in the footsteps of Sudan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Tensions between Sunni power Saudi Arabia and Shiite dominated Iran has further been heightened by alleged airstrikes by Saudi-led coalition near Tehran embassy in Yemeni capital, Sanaa on Thursday.
Saudi Arabia maintains close links with both economically battered Somalia and tiny Djibouti.
GAROWE ONLINE
