Riyadh Moves to Form Military Alliance with Cairo and Mogadishu to Curb UAE Influence in the Red Sea
Western media reports revealed on Friday that Saudi Arabia is finalizing an agreement to form a new military alliance involving Egypt and Somalia, in a strategic move aimed at reshaping the balance of influence in the Red Sea region and the Horn of Africa.
According to informed sources, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is preparing for an imminent visit to Riyadh to sign the agreement, which focuses on strengthening Red Sea security and expanding military and intelligence cooperation among the three countries.
The move comes amid escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, following Mogadishu’s cancellation of security and port agreements with Abu Dhabi, accusing it of violating Somali sovereignty and interfering in internal affairs.
Reports also indicate that Riyadh has exerted direct political pressure on the Somali government to scale back its relations with the UAE, as part of a broader Saudi effort to curtail Abu Dhabi’s influence in East Africa, Yemen, and Sudan.
The agreement is expected to mark a turning point in Saudi Arabia’s role in the Horn of Africa, representing its first direct military engagement in support of Somalia against security threats, foremost among them Al-Shabaab.
Meanwhile, the UAE continues to bolster its presence through strategic investments in the ports of Berbera and Bosaso, in addition to supporting armed groups in both Libya and Sudan, turning the region into an open arena for intensifying regional competition.
Observers warn that the covert rivalry between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi is gradually moving from behind the scenes into the open, with direct repercussions for Red Sea security and the geopolitical balance in Africa and the Middle East.
