Saudi Arabia reopens embassy in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced re-opening her embassy in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, years after unprecedented closure, following a civil war that lasted for years and subsequent Al-Shabaab threats.

Saudi Arabia Press Agency announced the latest development, in what seems to be a measure by the Horn of Africa nation to expand her wings across the troubled nation in the Horn of Africa.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry applauded the efforts of the Somali government to facilitate the procedures of reopening the embassy in its capital Mogadishu. For decades, Saudi Arabia's embassy in Somalia has been operating from neighboring Kenya.

According to the state agency, Saudi Arabia looks forward to promoting cooperation with Somalia for the common interests of the people of the two countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the new development.

In June 2021, a Saudi delegation visited Somalia to discuss steps to reopen the embassy. Saudi Arabia shut down its embassy in 1991 following disturbances and civil war in Somalia.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates [UAE] are some of the Arab League nations which have been wrestling to expand their outreach in the Horn of Africa nation. The three countries have been battling to control Mogadishu in terms of diplomatic ties.

For three decades, Somalia has been struggling to install a stable government under close supervision of the United Nations. The UN has been a major financial partner of the country and has partnered closely with foreign nations in the fight against terrorism.

GAROWE ONLINE