Relationship dossier
Saudi Arabia
Somalia
Relationship assessment
Saudi humanitarian support and Somali expressions of solidarity mark a cooperative relationship, alongside livestock trade sensitivities.
Saudi Arabia toward Somalia
+30Saudi Arabia has provided humanitarian assistance to Somalia, including support during periods of drought and humanitarian need. Saudi restrictions on livestock imports have also affected a significant Somali export sector.
Somalia toward Saudi Arabia
+25The Somali government has publicly expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia, including condemning attacks on Saudi oil facilities in 2019.
Overall relationship
+25The relationship features Saudi humanitarian assistance and Somali expressions of solidarity, alongside substantial livestock trade. These cooperative elements are tempered by the effects of Saudi livestock import restrictions on Somali exporters. The breadth and durability of bilateral cooperation beyond these issues are unclear.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Saudi Arabia and Somalia have had a cooperative relationship, including Saudi humanitarian assistance to Somalia and Somali government expressions of solidarity with Saudi Arabia. Livestock trade has also been important, though Saudi restrictions on livestock imports have at times affected Somali exporters. The scope and continuity of bilateral cooperation are not fully clear.
Areas of tension
- Saudi restrictions on livestock imports have affected Somali exporters.
Key developments
The Somali government condemned attacks on Saudi oil facilities and expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia provided humanitarian assistance to Somalia during periods of drought and humanitarian need.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of Saudi development and humanitarian assistance to Somalia are unclear.
- The extent of current bilateral security cooperation is unclear.
- The scale and continuing effects of Saudi livestock import restrictions on Somali exporters are uncertain.