A delegation of military officials from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia made a discreet visit to Mogadishu yesterday afternoon, initiating various activities in the Somali capital. Upon landing at Aden Adde International Airport, the Saudi officials immediately commenced a series of visits, including a stop at the General Gordon Training Camp, a facility where the United Arab Emirates trains Somali government forces.

The primary purpose of this visit was to assess the overall conditions at the camp. According to reports, the visit was purely for observation and assessment, with no other immediate objectives disclosed.

The involvement of Saudi Arabia in Somalia adds to the existing military influence of countries like the United States, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, which have been providing military support to the Federal Government of Somalia in its ongoing fight against the militant group Al-Shabaab.

In a related development, Egypt has recently signed a defense agreement with Somalia and is expected to send troops to join the new mission that will replace the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), slated to withdraw by the end of this year.