The Government of the Federal Republic of Somalia expressed appreciation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's for efforts exerted to serve the pilgrims and to pave the way for them to perform their religious rituals, with ease and comfort, security and peace. In a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry, it said that: "Organizing of the pilgrimage and care for pilgrims affairs is a sovereign matter, that God had given Saudi Arabia the honor of shouldering, auspices of the Two Holy Mosques, by situating the holy sites within its borders and under its sovereignty, in addition to being also in compliance with all relevant resolutions of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), all the principles and the provisions of the relevant international law. The Government of the Republic of Somalia - according to the statement - rejects the position of Iran's non-compliance with regulations and resolutions of the OIC, for the pilgrimage and trying to take this as an excuse to prevent pilgrims from performing Hajj of this year. Somalia denounced the attempt to politicize pilgrimage, turn it into a political manifestation and an occasion for political posturing, calling for a strict commitment to the values represented by this great ritual, shunning anything that would trouble spiritual pilgrimage, disturb its lofty objectives and staying away from any act that may jeopardize the security and safety of pilgrims or put them, at risk.
