By Zakaria Hassan - Reporter
Saudi Arabia, 16 January 2026 Saudi Arabia is finalizing discussions on a new military coalition with Somalia and Egypt, in a move aimed at curbing the regional influence of the United Arab Emirates, according to Bloomberg.
The agreement, Bloomberg reports, seeks to enhance strategic coordination on Red Sea security and expand military cooperation among the three countries. As part of the process, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia in the near future to conclude the deal, according to two people familiar with the matter.
The talks come days after Somalia annulled security and port agreements with the UAE, accusing Abu Dhabi of violating Somali sovereignty by covertly transporting a Yemeni separatist leader through Somali territory. According to Bloomberg, Saudi officials have encouraged the Somali government to scale back its security ties with the UAE.
Tensions between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi have intensified in recent years despite their partnership within OPEC+, particularly after Saudi Arabia pushed for the withdrawal of Emirati forces from Yemen as part of efforts to limit its rival’s regional footprint.
Saudi Arabia has long backed Somalia’s territorial integrity and its fight against Al-Shabaab, but Bloomberg notes that the kingdom has so far provided limited material support. The proposed coalition would mark the first time Riyadh has sought to directly reinforce Somalia’s military and security capacity.
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A spokesperson for the Somali government confirmed that negotiations on a new agreement are underway but declined to provide further details. Bloomberg said spokespersons for the Saudi government and its defense ministry did not respond to requests for comment, while the Egyptian government also did not reply to inquiries.
The UAE, meanwhile, has expanded its presence across Africa as part of efforts to diversify its economy and project influence abroad, including backing military factions in Libya and Sudan. While reaffirming Somalia’s territorial integrity, Abu Dhabi has invested heavily in port infrastructure in Berbera, in Somaliland, and Bosaso, in Puntland.
Somalia’s decision to sever ties with the UAE followed Israel’s move to recognize Somaliland, granting the self-declared region a new partner along the strategic Red Sea coast. The move was swiftly condemned by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey.
According to Bloomberg, Riyadh last week mobilized members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to reject what it described as Israel’s “illegal measure.” The OIC, headquartered in Jeddah, issued a communiqué warning that the recognition posed “a direct threat to peace and security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.”
Egypt, for its part, signed a separate agreement with Mogadishu last year aimed at strengthening bilateral relations, enhancing military cooperation, and boosting the capacity of Somali state institutions.
