Somalia, Saudi Arabia ink security cooperation pact

GOOBJOOG NEWS|RIYADH: Somalia and Saudi Arabia have signed an agreement to bolster security cooperation and support between the two countries.

Somalia Foreign Affairs Minister Abshir Omar Jama and the Minister of Interior of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Hines Abdulaziz bin Saud Al Saud inked the deal on Sunday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The agreement is focused on developing security cooperation between Somalia and Saudi Arabia and will be instrumental in addressing key areas such as counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, and development.

The agreement comes at a time Somalia is deeply involved in an ongoing war against the militant group Al-Shabaab. The offensives have been going on for the last one year. The Federal Government is currently preparing to launch the second phase of the operation which moves toward the southern parts of the country.

Saudi Arabia has been a major supporter to Somalia’s annual budget in addition to humanitarian response support.