Somalia rejects ‘Israeli’ presence “under any circumstances”: president

Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has declared that his country will not accept any ‘Israeli’ presence “under any circumstances”.

He also accused ‘Israel’ of planning a naval base and airport access in the strategic port of Berbera while rejecting efforts to draw Somalia into Middle East conflicts.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Mohamud said ‘Israel’ was seeking to establish a naval facility in Berbera and use the city’s airport.

He argued that the true objective was to position ‘Israel’ closer to Gulf states and Iran.

“We will overcome the challenges posed to our country by Israeli moves,” he stated.

Berbera lies on the Gulf of Aden coast in Somaliland, the self-declared republic in northwestern Somalia that ‘Israel’ recognised in December 2025.

Mogadishu continues to claim the territory as an integral part of Somalia.

The port faces Yemen near the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a critical shipping chokepoint where Iran-aligned Houthis have previously targeted vessels linked to ‘Israel’.

Mohamud linked the alleged plans to the “Greater Israel” project, a term for proposals envisioning ‘Israeli’ control over territory beyond its current borders.

He described ‘Israel’ as a “destabilising force” that does not abide by international law and criticised its recognition of Somaliland, noting that no other country has followed suit.

He added that residents of the region itself are “completely opposed to an Israeli presence.”

Somaliland quickly rejected the president’s claims.

Its foreign ministry called the remarks “misleading” and insisted that the Somali government “has no authority to determine Somaliland’s foreign relations or speak on behalf of its people.”

The statement described relations with ‘Israel’ as sovereign decisions aimed at peaceful cooperation, development, and regional stability, and dismissed suggestions that Berbera would serve as a platform for aggression.

The dispute underscores the long-running sovereignty conflict.

Somaliland declared independence in 1991 and has governed itself for more than three decades, though it lacked recognition from any UN member state until ‘Israel’s’ move.
Somalia maintains that only the federal government can authorise military or security arrangements involving what it regards as its territory.

In the same interview, Mohamud also addressed regional security, describing the United States as Somalia’s strongest partner against terrorism and stating that al-Shabab has no presence in major cities.

He said relations with Ethiopia remain good and that Mogadishu does not object to Ethiopian sea access through joint agreements that respect Somali sovereignty.