Somalia Rejects Israeli Military Presence Amid Tensions

Somalia will not accept an Israeli military presence on its territory “under any circumstances”, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has said, accusing Israel of planning to establish a naval base in the breakaway region of Somaliland.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Mohamud said Israel planned to establish a naval facility in the strategic port city of Berbera and use its airport. He said the move was intended to give Israel closer geopolitical access to Gulf states and Iran.

The Somali president said attempts to draw Somalia into conflicts in the Middle East would not succeed and that his government would overcome the security and diplomatic challenges posed by what he described as Israeli manoeuvres.

Mohamud also said residents in Somaliland opposed an Israeli military presence.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has remained internationally disputed, with Mogadishu continuing to regard the territory as part of Somalia. Israel recognised Somaliland as an independent state in December 2025, becoming the first UN member state to do so.

Somaliland has previously denied that an agreement exists for an Israeli military base. Its officials have, however, acknowledged growing security cooperation with Israel.

Mohamud said Somalia had never established diplomatic relations with Israel and maintained that his government would not allow Somali territory to be used as an outpost for military rivalries in the Middle East.

SOURCE: TRT World and Agencies