Somaliland slams Somalia’s opposition to Israeli military presence

Somaliland has harshly rebuked Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's opposition to Israel's proposed military presence in the Horn of Africa. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Mohamud firmly stated that his nation would "never tolerate Israel's presence within Somalia under any circumstances." The President asserted that Israel intends to establish a naval base in Somaliland's Berbera port, located near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, which Somaliland claims is part of a broader "Greater Israel" strategy.

Somaliland's Foreign Ministry strongly countered these allegations, emphasizing that the two nations are "independent sovereign states with distinct governance structures." The ministry highlighted that Somaliland's diplomatic relations with Israel are based on mutual decisions to promote cooperation, development, and regional stability.

They dismissed the suggestion that Berbera would function as a base for military aggression against other countries as "unfounded" and incompatible with Somaliland's commitment to peaceful international relations.

Furthermore, the statement criticized "threats of force and interference," urging the Somali leadership to exercise restraint and address internal issues responsibly. In June, Somaliland's President Abdirahman Abdullahi met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem, during which both leaders emphasized their dedication to maintaining security and stability in the Horn of Africa.

The deployment of Israel's military in the region is expected to facilitate the establishment of a monitoring hub to track and counter Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, whose activities have posed a threat to Red Sea shipping since November 2023.