Saudi Arabia's $50 Million Financial Aid to Somalia Following Break in Relations with Iran

According to documents seen by Reuters, on the day Somalia announced it was severing ties with Iran, Saudi Arabia pledged $50 million in aid to the African nation. Reuters reports that the Somali government has neither confirmed nor denied receiving such a pledge but stated that there is no connection between Saudi Arabia's long-term financial support and Somalia's decision to cut relations with Iran. The Saudi Foreign Ministry has also not provided any clarification on this matter. Diplomats told Reuters that this action aligns with Saudi Arabia's policy of supporting regional governments against Iran. Tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia escalated after the Sunni-led Saudi government executed a Shia cleric and protesters in Tehran set the Saudi embassy on fire. One diplomat noted that 'the Saudis are attracting countries based on financial support and a non-intervention policy,' referring to Iran's approach of strengthening ties with the Shia minority in the region. A document from the Saudi embassy in Nairobi indicates that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has promised $20 million in financial aid, along with an additional $30 million in investment to Somalia, which is trying to rebuild after two decades of war. According to this document, released on January 7—exactly when Somalia cut ties with Iran—these two financial aids will be disbursed from the Saudi Development Fund. Somalia severed its relations with Iran, claiming that Iran was interfering in its internal affairs and jeopardizing its national security, subsequently giving Iranian diplomats 72 hours to leave the country. However, Mohamed Aden Ibrahim, Somalia's Minister of Economy, told Reuters that any financial assistance from Saudi Arabia is unrelated to Mogadishu's stance on Iran. He added, 'Our relations with Saudi Arabia have long existed and are not something new.' Several other Gulf Arab countries, including Bahrain, which are close allies of Saudi Arabia, have also cut ties with Iran, while some others recalled their ambassadors from Iran. Sudan, which, like Somalia and Saudi Arabia, is a member of the Arab League, announced that it has severed relations with the non-Arab country of Iran. Somalia, which is in a rebuilding phase and fighting against extremist Islamists, has expanded its relations with Saudi Arabia, although Western powers and Turkey are its largest supporters. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the President of Somalia, met with King Salman of Saudi Arabia in October, and a Saudi delegation visited Somalia in late 2015 to explore ways to expand support for the country. Reuters concluded its report with remarks from Abdisalam Omar, Somalia's Foreign Minister, stating, 'Any requests for financial aid and other assistance from Saudi Arabia are related to long ago.'