Alwaght- The Somali government obtained a $50 million bribe in the form of aid pledge from Saudi Arabia this month on the same day it announced it was cutting ties with Iran amid a diplomatic spat between Tehran and Riyadh, it has been revealed.
A document from the Saudi embassy in Nairobi to the Somali embassy in the Kenyan capital showed the Saudi regime pledging $20 million in 'budget support' and another $30 million for 'investment' in Somalia. The two grants would come from the Saudi Development Fund, according to the leaked document that was dated Jan. 7, the same day Somalia cut ties with Iran, Reuters reported.
The news agency quoted diplomats as saying that the financial incentives are "the latest sign of patronage used by the kingdom to shore up regional support against Iran."
"The Saudis currently manage to rally countries behind them both on financial grounds and the argument of non-interference," a diplomat said. Iran has repeatedly denied the Saudi allegations of interference in the affairs of other countries.
The Saudi regime severed ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran on 3rd January. The ties were cut after a day after the Saudi regime announced the execution of prominent Islamic cleric and critic of the monarchy, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr and 46 other people. After that, protesters gathered outside the Saudi embassy in the Iranian capital, Tehran, and the consulate building in the city of Mashhad. Some people attacked the Saudi diplomatic missions during the protests. Iranian authorities strongly condemned the attacks and some 60 people were detained. The Saudi regime used the protests as a pretext to sever its ties with Iran
The Saudi regime has compelled weak African and Arab allies including Sudan, Somalia, Comoro and Bahrain to follow suit by announcing they severing their diplomatic relations with Tehran.
