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Somalia Relations with Arab Countries
Somalia has a long history of cultural, religious, and trade
ties with the Arabs of the Arabian Peninsula, which lies across
the Gulf of Aden. Although Somalis ethnically are not Arabs, they
identify more with Arabs than with their fellow Africans. Thus it
was not surprising when Somalia joined the League of Arab States
(Arab League) in 1974, becoming the first non-Arab member of that
organization. Initially, Somalia tended to support those Arab
countries such as Algeria, Iraq, and Libya that opposed United
States policies in the Middle East. After its defeat in the
Ogaden War, the Siad Barre regime aligned its policies more
closely with those of Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Subsequently, both
of these countries began to provide military aid to Somalia.
Other Arab states, in particular Libya, angered Siad Barre by
supporting Ethiopia. In 1981 Somalia broke diplomatic relations
with Libya, claiming that Libyan leader Muammar al Qadhafi was
supporting the SSDF and the nascent SNM. Relations were not
restored until 1985.
Throughout the 1980s, Somalia became increasingly dependent
upon economic aid from the conservative, wealthy oil-exporting
states of Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab
Emirates. This dependence was a crucial factor in the Siad Barre
regime's decision to side with the United States-led coalition of
Arab states that opposed Iraq following that country's invasion
of Kuwait in 1990. Support for the coalition brought economic
dividends: Qatar canceled further repayment of all principal and
interest on outstanding loans, and Saudi Arabia offered Somalia a
US$70 million grant and promised to sell it oil at below
prevailing international market prices.
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