Thursday December 11, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ali Mohamed Omar (Ali Balcad), has strongly dismissed claims that weapons entering Somalia are being smuggled into neighboring countries.
In an interview with Al Jazeera Net on Wednesday, the minister emphasized that Somalia is actively working to halt the flow of illegal arms from Yemen and said there is no evidence supporting allegations that Somali territory is being used as a transit route for weapons destined for the Houthis or any other regional actors.
The minister added that Somalia remains committed to strengthening relations with countries in the region and is focused on promoting peace, stability, and genuine cooperation across the Horn of Africa.
The remarks come days after Somali Minister of Defence Ahmed Moallim Fiqi held high-level talks in Cairo with his Yemeni counterpart, Lieutenant General Mohsen Mohammed Ahmed Al-Daari. The meeting, attended by the Commander of the Somali National Armed Forces, Major General Odowaa Yusuf Rage, and senior military officials from both sides, centered on boosting defense cooperation and improving security in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
During the discussions, both sides highlighted the urgent need to reinforce maritime security along critical shipping routes shared by Somalia and Yemen. They also explored coordinated strategies to curb the illegal movement of weapons an issue exploited by armed groups seeking to destabilize the two nations and the wider region.