Somalia will not accept an Israeli presence in the country under any circumstances and will oppose any attempt to draw it into the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has said.
In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, Mohamud said Israel was planning to establish a naval base in Berbera, a city in the self-declared region of Somaliland in northwestern Somalia. He also alleged that Israel plans to use the city’s airport. According to the president, the broader objective is to move closer to the Gulf states and Iran.
Berbera is a strategically important port city on the Gulf of Aden. Yemen lies across the gulf, while the strategically significant Bab al-Mandab Strait is also nearby. The Iran-aligned Houthi movement has previously imposed restrictions on shipping linked to Israel in the area.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, but its international recognition has remained limited. Mogadishu continues to regard the territory as part of Somalia. Israel formally recognised Somaliland in December 2025, becoming the first country to do so.
Speaking about Israel’s activities, Mohamud said, “We will confront the challenges facing our country because of Israel’s actions.”
Somalia had previously warned against plans for an Israeli military facility in Somaliland. In March, a Somali state minister said foreign military arrangements made outside the authority of the federal government would have no legal standing. Reports at the time cited plans for an Israeli installation near Berbera, while Somaliland officials gave differing statements about whether such discussions were taking place.
Mohamud also alleged that Israel’s plans around Berbera are part of what he described as a “Greater Israel” project. The term is generally used in reference to proposals for expanding Israel’s control or influence beyond its current borders, with some interpretations referring to territory extending from the Nile River to the Euphrates.
