Somalia and Saudi Arabia to boost defence cooperation

Somalia and Saudi Arabia have signed a new defence cooperation agreement aimed at deepening military ties and strengthening Somalia’s security capabilities, officials said.

The pact was signed by Somalia’s Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi and Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman as part of broader efforts to expand strategic cooperation between Mogadishu and Riyadh. It covers a range of areas, including training and capacity-building for Somali forces, support with military equipment, and cooperation on modern security and defence technologies, as well as coordination on defence planning and exchanges of expertise.

Saudi Arabia has been a key supporter of Somalia’s efforts to combat armed groups and improve internal security. Officials said the agreement would help improve the professionalism and operational readiness of the Somali National Army, as Somalia continues military operations against insurgent groups and seeks sustained international partnerships to support security sector reform and long-term stability.

Source: commonspace.eu with Shabelle 

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