Somalia asserts its support to Saudi-led airstrikes in Yemen
In the face of domestic opposition for the government’s support towards the Saudi-led airstrikes against Houthi fighters in Yemen, Somalia’s president has emphasized his country’s position to Saudi Arabia in its fight against Shia militia and the support Yemeni government led by the ousted president Abd-Rabbu Mansour.
His remarks reinforced foreign ministry’s previous statement denouncing Houthi militia and lauded the Saudi airstrikes aimed at quelling the advance by Houthi fighters in Yemen.
However, Somalis denounced the government’s move, accusing it of endangering the lives of thousands of Somali refugees in Yemen who may encounter a potential backlash by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia.
“My government has made its mind for two things: Supporting the legitimate Yemeni government and the second thing is preventing the extremists regardless their political status.” Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Somalia’s president told Voice of America’s Somali service on Monday.
President Mohamud said his government would relocate the Somali refugees in Yemen to Somalia where security concern still remain a major problem.
Mr. Mohamud’s remarks come two days after Saudi-led airstrikes have driven back rebels in Aden, the last stronghold of Yemen’s president, as AL-Qaeda fighters seized a major army base in southeast of the country.
