MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – Somalia has weighed in into the escalating row over the alleged murder of Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi, declaring its support for the Saudi Kingdom.
International pressure is mounting on Saudi Arabia to give a comprehensive explanation into the whereabouts of missing dissident Mr. Khashoggi.
Khashoggi, a columnist for the Washington Post who had been living in the United States, has been missing since he entered a Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey on October 2nd.
Turkish authorities suspect that Khashoggi was abducted and murdered by the Saudis but Riyadh denies the claims.
In a statement, Somali Foreign Affairs Ministry warned against attempts to undermine Saudi Arabia.
“The Government of the Federal Republic of Somalia reiterates its steadfast in support of the stability and sovereignty of Arab states, and declaring its stand and the full solidarity with our brotherly Saudi Arabia against anyone who attempts to harm it and harm its economic role and interests,” a statement from the ministry read in part.
The ministry in its statement affirmed the need to refrain attempts to provoke Saudi Arabia.
“The Federal Republic of Somalia is urging the need to move away from provocation and deliberate campaign against Saudi Arabia,” the ministry stated.
Saudi Arabia dispelled its critics on Sunday and vowed it would respond to sanctions or other punitive steps “with even greater action” as pressure continued to mount on the kingdom over the disappearance and alleged murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The warning, published by the official Saudi Press Agency, came hours after U.S. President Donald Trump, in an interview with 60 Minutes, said there would be “severe punishment” if it was determined that Mr. Khashoggi had been murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, as the Turkish government claims.
Mr. Khashoggi, a journalist was sharply critical of Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
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