Red Sea Security Accelerates on Africa’s Eastern Flank
Developments are moving quickly along the African flank of the Red Sea. Bloomberg reports that Saudi Arabia is preparing an agreement for a military coalition in which Somalia and Egypt would be members. To bring the arrangement to fruition, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia in the near term, the US business news agency says.
Saudi Arabia’s More Direct Role in Somalia, as Reported by Bloomberg
Bloomberg also describes this as a first for Saudi Arabia: the kingdom would be “for the first time” directly involved in Somalia’s security. Until now, Riyadh’s role has been framed as indirect, including support for efforts against the Islamist group Al-Shabaab and repeated backing for Somalia’s territorial integrity amid pressures linked to the secessionist Somaliland territory’s independence ambitions.
Egypt–Somalia Defence Links Provide an Existing Foundation
Egypt, the other country cited as joining the coalition, already maintains close ties with Somalia. In 2024, Cairo and Mogadishu concluded a bilateral agreement aimed at strengthening their military cooperation, underscoring a relationship that could dovetail with a broader framework if the Saudi-prepared coalition proceeds as described.
Horn of Africa Alliance and Regional Influence Dynamics
According to the Somali outlet Hiiraan, the coalition would constitute a new alliance in the Horn of Africa and would fit within a Saudi strategy intended to curb the regional influence of the United Arab Emirates. Read in that light, the prospective pact is not only about operational security coordination, but also about how Gulf actors position themselves around Red Sea routes and strategic partnerships in the Horn.
