Yemen, Somalia hold security talks in Aden to strengthen bilateral cooperation
The meeting was part of ongoing efforts by both governments to improve coordination in dealing with regional security challenges that affect the Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Aden.
Yemen’s Minister of Defence, Major General Mohsen al-Daari, met with Somalia’s Ambassador to Yemen, Abdulhakim Mohamed, in Aden to discuss cooperation between the two countries in areas of defence, security, and migration control.
The meeting was part of ongoing efforts by both governments to improve coordination in dealing with regional security challenges that affect the Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Aden.
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During the meeting, the two officials discussed ways to build stronger working relations between their security institutions.
They focused on the growing threat posed by illegal migration and the activities of groups that use migration routes for criminal or violent purposes. Both sides agreed on the need for continued communication and information sharing to reduce the risks linked to human trafficking, arms smuggling, and maritime insecurity.
Maj Gen al-Daari said Yemen valued its long-standing relationship with Somalia and would continue to work with Somali authorities to maintain peace and security along shared maritime routes.
“Our two countries have long and deep relations based on history and geography. It is our joint duty to keep our sea and our people safe,” he said.
He also called for regional cooperation to secure international navigation through the Gulf of Aden and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which serve as vital corridors for global trade.
Ambassador Abdulhakim thanked the Yemeni government for the support it has continued to extend to Somali nationals living in Yemen.
He reaffirmed Somalia’s intention to strengthen collaboration with Yemen in the fields of security, politics, and development.
“Somalia appreciates the cooperation and the assistance given to our citizens in Yemen. We are ready to work closely with Yemen to improve security and to build a stable region,” he said.
The discussions took place as both countries face shared challenges related to migration and cross-border movements.
Thousands of migrants from the Horn of Africa cross into Yemen each year, many of them Somalis seeking better opportunities or attempting to reach Gulf states. The route remains dangerous, with many migrants facing exploitation and violence from smugglers and armed groups.
Yemen’s Defence Minister and the Somali Ambassador agreed that the two governments must coordinate more closely to control illegal migration and to prevent terrorist organisations from taking advantage of the movement of people and goods between their shores.
They also discussed the possibility of organising joint patrols, sharing intelligence on smuggling networks, and cooperating on maritime training programs.
The meeting followed recent efforts by the Somali government to repatriate Somali citizens stranded in Yemen.
Last week, Somali authorities, in cooperation with international partners, returned 148 Somalis from Yemeni territory. Officials in Mogadishu said the operation was part of a broader plan to assist Somali migrants and to improve the management of migration routes across the Red Sea.
Regional observers say the renewed contact between Yemen and Somalia marks an effort to rebuild institutional ties that were weakened by years of conflict and instability in both countries.
Yemen continues to deal with the effects of its prolonged civil war, while Somalia is focusing on internal security operations against extremist groups and on restoring the capacity of state institutions.
The Gulf of Aden remains a critical maritime zone where piracy, trafficking, and terrorism have posed long-term risks to trade and navigation.
Cooperation between Yemen and Somalia is seen as essential to maintaining security along the southern entrance to the Red Sea. Officials from both countries noted that sustained coordination could also help attract international support for joint maritime security initiatives.
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