Somalia Cuts Ties with Iran; Comoros Withdraws Its Ambassador

Arabic media reported on Thursday, January 7, that the Somali government has severed its relations with Iran following the attack on the Saudi Arabian embassy and consulate in Mashhad. The Comoros archipelago has also recalled its ambassador from Iran. News networks Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya, as well as the Emirati newspaper Al-Bayan's website, are among the media outlets that reported Somalia's severance of relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to these reports, the Somali government has given the Iranian ambassador 72 hours to leave Somali territory. Additionally, the representation of the 'Imam Khomeini Relief Committee' has one week to exit Somalia. Before Thursday's cabinet meeting, the Somali government spokesperson accused Iran of 'organizing a Somali militia group similar to the Houthi militia and affiliated militants in Syria.' The statement added that Iranian officials are traveling to Somalia for this purpose. Two days prior, the Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement describing the attack on the Saudi embassy and consulate as a clear violation of international conventions and diplomatic norms. The statement added that Somalia stands alongside Saudi Arabia in its military operations against terrorism and 'its efforts to support security and stability in its territory and the region.' The Comoros archipelago also announced that following the attack on the Saudi embassy and consulate in Iran, it has recalled its ambassador from Tehran. According to Anadolu Agency, the Comoros Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the 'aggression' against Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran in a statement. This statement emphasized the necessity of 'respecting international regulations and the law of diplomatic immunity to ensure peace and the sovereignty of countries' and announced that it has recalled its ambassador from Iran. The Comoros archipelago, covering an area of 2,000 square kilometers, is located in southeastern Africa near Madagascar. The severance of relations by Somalia and the recall of the Comoros ambassador from Tehran occur amid an Arab wave protesting the attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran. In this context, Saudi Arabia, followed by Bahrain and Sudan, cut their diplomatic relations with Iran. The United Arab Emirates downgraded its diplomatic relations with Iran, while Kuwait and Qatar also recalled their ambassadors from Iran. The attack on the Saudi embassy and consulate occurred in protest against the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, a Saudi Shia cleric. Last Saturday, 47 individuals condemned for 'terrorist acts' were executed in Saudi Arabia. Most of the executed were affiliated with al-Qaeda, but four of the executed were Shia, including al-Nimr. The execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr has sparked outrage among Shia in the region. In this context, Iran accused Saudi Arabia of conducting an airstrike on its embassy in Yemen, while Qatar continued the Arab wave by recalling its ambassador from Iran. Hundreds of Shia militia members protested in Baghdad against the execution of al-Nimr. Erdogan considered the recent executions in Saudi Arabia an internal matter of that country. The oil war between Tehran and Riyadh continues, and the import of any goods from Saudi Arabia to Iran has been banned.