...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula, largely made up of sand and oil rigs. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual haj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. Formerly dictatorial and steeped in Olde Tyme Religion, deferring to Salafist holy men on all issues, it has now done a 180 and is making a serious effort to modernize, so as not to be left in the sand by its Gulf Arab neighbors. The holy men have been shoved to the background and the nation is now still dictatorial but somewhat rational. That doesn't make them trustworthy, but it's a start...has expanded its military support for Somalia by launching the implementation of a defence cooperation agreement signed with Mogadishu in February, according to reports.
As part of the programme, around 5,000 Somali troops are reportedly being trained at two military bases in the northern part of the central Galmudug
...a semiautonomous region in central Somalia, bordering Puntland on the north. Galmudug is not trying to obtain international recognition as a separate nation, but rather considers itself autonomous within the larger Somali federalism, for what that's worth...
state.
The training is being provided by foreign instructors from Romania, Ukraine, South Africa, and Colombia under a Saudi-funded initiative, the reports said.
Saudi military officers recently visited the training sites to review the progress of the programme, according to the reports.
The defence agreement, signed earlier this year, is intended to strengthen military cooperation between the two countries, although its implementation has largely remained out of public view.
The move underscores Saudi Arabia's growing security engagement in Somalia, joining other Gulf states seeking greater strategic influence in the country. The United Arab Emirates and Qatar
...an emirate on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It sits on some really productive gas and oil deposits, which produces the highest per capita income in the world. They piss it all away on religion, financing the Moslem Brotherhood and several al-Qaeda affiliates. Home of nutbag holy manYusuf al-Qaradawi...
have long maintained prominent security and military roles in Somalia.