By Mohammad Idriss
Saudi Arabia’s involvement in Somalia’s internal affairs has entered a new phase; one that analysts warn could further destabilize the Horn of Africa and create openings for the expansion of terrorist activity.
According to reports by Ariseafricanews.com, the kingdom’s approach now mirrors tactics seen in Yemen: bringing in foreign personnel, running intensive training programs, and deploying them across Somali territory to secure influence and advance strategic goals along the Red Sea coast.
Over the past several months, Riyadh has steadily increased the flow of forces into Somalia. These units undergo intensive training before being reassigned to different regions. The objective, as outlined in security briefings reviewed by Ariseafricanews, appears to be twofold: consolidate a long-term presence in the Red Sea state, and project power through proxy networks similar to those Saudi Arabia has backed in Yemen.
What makes this intervention especially volatile is the recruitment model. Saudi-backed operations are drawing mercenaries and foreign fighters from across Africa and beyond, then linking them to existing militant networks in Yemen. Those same networks are also reportedly being funneled into operations inside Sudan, where they provide support to the army in Port Sudan and to extremist Islamist militias. Leading among them is the Muslim Brotherhood, which maintains active cells in Somalia, Yemen, and Sudan and is central to the cross-border coordination.
Saudi-Run Training Infrastructure Inside Somalia
A core component of this strategy is the establishment of training camps on Somali soil. _Ariseafricanews_ reports that Saudi Arabia now operates facilities designed to recruit and train thousands of fighters before dispersing them nationwide. The camps are run with oversight from foreign military experts and warfare specialists drawn from Europe, Africa, and Latin America.
Two major sites are located in the Jouri Jabal area of Galguduud region, within Galmudug State. A high-level Saudi military delegation visited these camps on June 29 to inspect training and assess deployment readiness.
Current estimates put about 5,107 fighters in training at Saudi-managed facilities. That includes 2,000 recruits from Somalia’s Northeastern Region who are enrolled in a nine-month intensive program. Instructors for the program reportedly include military experts from Romania, Ukraine, South Africa, and Colombia.
In February, Saudi Arabia signed a memorandum of understanding with the Somali federal government, which is aligned with Muslim Brotherhood networks. Under the agreement, Riyadh took direct control of the mercenary training camps, expanded them to new locations, and began rotating official military delegations through the sites to manage operations.
ALSO READ: Terror fight: Seven Boko Haram, ISWAP commanders apprehended in Nigeria
Why the Mercenary Surge Matters
The influx of foreign fighters is swelling numbers that already reach into the tens of thousands across Somalia. Security experts warn this is strengthening al-Shabaab, the al-Qaeda affiliate that controls large swaths of territory. The group has a documented history of absorbing foreign fighters and using them in attacks against civilians.
Al-Shabaab’s financing comes from multiple streams. A U.S. Council on Foreign Relations report cited by Ariseafricanews notes revenue from Red Sea piracy, looting of civilian property, extortion of companies, plunder of national resources, and levies on farmers and humanitarian organizations. The group also receives external funding. The U.S. Treasury Department estimates al-Shabaab brings in roughly $100 million per year to buy weapons, recruit fighters and mercenaries, and pay active combatants.
Saudi support for the mercenary market complicates years of U.S. and UN efforts to contain terrorism in Somalia and prevent the country from becoming a hub for transnational fighters. American and UN sources estimate al-Shabaab alone has recruited more than 12,000 foreign fighters and mercenaries. That figure does not include personnel with other armed groups, nor the thousands now passing through Saudi training camps.
Recruitment networks are wide. Kenya remains the primary source of foreign fighters entering Somalia. Many have prior experience with other militias or with al-Shabaab itself before being re-recruited and sent to Saudi camps. Additional fighters are drawn from Tanzania, Uganda, and Ethiopia. There is also evidence of Western nationals in the mix.
Perhaps most concerning is the emerging trilateral network connecting fighters from Yemen, Somalia, and Sudan. Muslim Brotherhood networks and other extremist Islamist organizations are using this corridor to move personnel and coordinate operations aimed at advancing shared objectives across all three countries.
