Saudi Arabia Reaffirms Support For Somalia's Unity At OIC Extraordinary Meeting

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji, representing Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, attended an extraordinary meeting of Organization of Islamic Cooperation foreign ministers in Jeddah, focusing on recent political developments and tensions in Somalia.

During the session at the OIC headquarters, Waleed Elkhereiji said the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia fully supports the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, stressing Riyadh’s backing for Somalia’s recognised national institutions and overall political stability.

Elkhereiji firmly rejected the declaration of mutual recognition between the Israeli occupation authorities and the Somaliland region, describing the move as a unilateral separatist step that contradicts international law, the Charter of the United Nations, and the Charter of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

The vice minister stated that Saudi Arabia rejects any attempts to create parallel or rival entities within Somali territory, or any measures that divide, weaken, or reduce Somalia’s sovereignty, noting that such actions threaten the country’s unity and undermine its territorial integrity.

He called on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and all member states to take a clear and joint Islamic position that refuses any recognition of, or dealings with, separatist entities in Somalia, warning that acceptance could encourage similar moves in other member countries.

Waleed Elkhereiji urged OIC states to hold what he described as the Israeli entity fully responsible for any political or security consequences arising from the mutual recognition with the Somaliland region, and to collectively oppose any initiative or cooperation based on that arrangement.

Saudi Arabia, OIC and Somalia regional context

The vice minister also encouraged coordinated diplomatic work in international forums to reinforce Somalia’s unity and prevent the emergence of what he called dangerous precedents that threaten the stability of OIC members, including explicit rejection of all actions derived from this mutual recognition announcement.

In his remarks, Elkhereiji restated Saudi Arabia’s view on the Palestinian question, stressing the centrality of the Palestinian cause and supporting all efforts to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, enabling the Palestinian people to achieve self-determination and an independent state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The meeting, held at the OIC headquarters in Jeddah, brought together foreign ministers and representatives from member states to review the situation in Somalia and related regional issues, with discussions taking place against the backdrop of heightened concern at 22:37 local time, 19:37 GMT.

With inputs from SPA