Riyadh (Somalia Today) – Somalia’s foreign minister arrived in Riyadh on Sunday for talks to reinforce the nation’s unity and sovereignty, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a parallel message to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman following Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland.
Somali Foreign Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali met Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh to discuss support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Prince Faisal reaffirmed the kingdom’s “full support” for Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and rejected any actions that threaten Somalia’s security and stability, SPA said.
Somalia’s foreign ministry said the two sides also reviewed regional developments and explored ways to broaden bilateral cooperation across sectors, in language that framed Saudi backing as part of a wider effort to preserve Somali unity after Israel’s move.
Hours earlier, Erdogan told the Saudi crown prince that Turkey was “closely” following developments in Somalia and Yemen and that preserving both countries’ territorial integrity remained “vital” for regional stability, according to a statement by Turkey’s Communications Directorate.
Saudi state media separately said the leaders reviewed bilateral relations and discussed regional and international developments, including efforts linked to security and stability.
Recognition fallout
The diplomatic activity follows Israel’s December 26 announcement that it had formally recognised Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state — the first country to do so since Somaliland declared independence in 1991 after Somalia’s state collapse.
Somalia condemned the decision as illegal and said it would counter it through diplomatic, political and legal channels.
Somaliland has maintained its own institutions and held elections for decades, but it has remained outside the international recognition system despite its strategic Gulf of Aden coastline facing Yemen.
The African Union moved quickly to reject any recognition push, with the AU Commission chairperson rejecting “any initiative or action” aimed at recognising Somaliland and reiterating that it remains an integral part of Somalia.
The UK and China also publicly reaffirmed support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and declined to recognise Somaliland, reinforcing the broader international line against unilateral status changes.
Security Council debate
The issue then spilled into the U.N. Security Council, which held an emergency meeting on December 29 as speakers warned the move could threaten stability in the Horn of Africa.
Israel defended its decision at the meeting, saying it did not aim to antagonise Somalia and casting recognition as an opening for cooperation, while several states challenged Israel’s rationale and raised wider concerns about regional implications.
Somalia’s government has also faced pressure to demonstrate resolve domestically.
Tens of thousands of Somalis protested in Mogadishu on December 30 against Israel’s decision, the largest demonstrations since the recognition was announced.
Those protests followed a high-profile meeting between Somalia’s president and Erdogan in Turkey, where the two leaders denounced Israel’s move as a violation of Somali sovereignty.
Turkey’s strategic role
Turkey has become one of Somalia’s most influential external partners through aid, investment and military training, giving Ankara’s sovereignty message added weight as Mogadishu mobilises regional support.
Turkey’s engagement also intersects with a widening energy agenda. Ankara plans to launch its first overseas deepwater drilling operation in Somali waters in February 2026, Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said, calling it Turkey’s first deepwater exploration project abroad.
Erdogan paired his Somalia message with Yemen, offering Turkey’s support for efforts to bring rival parties together as Saudi Arabia pushes dialogue amid renewed tensions in the south, according to the Turkish readout.
He also raised Gaza, warning that winter conditions were worsening the humanitarian situation and reiterating calls for a lasting ceasefire and reconstruction, the Turkish statement said — a reminder that regional diplomacy is now moving across several fronts at once.
