Somalia Severs Ties with Iran

Somalia announced Thursday that it has severed ties with Iran, according to local media.

The East African nation joined a few countries that cut off diplomatic relations with Tehran, led by Saudi Arabia, amid escalating tensions.

Saudi Arabia on Saturday executed Shiite Nimr, among dozens of others. The execution was widely condemned and by both political and religious figures.

On Sunday, furious demonstrators in the Iranian cities of Tehran and Mashhad stormed Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic buildings in protest at the Al Saud’s execution of Sheikh Nimr.

Although Iranian officials criticized the embassy attack and police arrested several individuals involved, Saudi Arabia on Sunday severed diplomatic ties with the Islamic Republic.

Since then, Bahrain, Sudan, Djibouti and now Somalia have followed suit.