By Jelili Gbadamosi
Somaliland has rejected Somalia’s opposition to Israel’s reported plan to establish a military presence at Berbera port, insisting that Mogadishu has no authority over its foreign relations.
The development followed comments by Somalia’s President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who said his country would “never accept the presence of Israel in Somalia under any circumstances.”
Mohamud, speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera, alleged that Israel planned to establish a naval base at Somaliland’s Berbera port, located near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, describing the move as part of the “Greater Israel” project.
Responding to the remarks, Somaliland’s Foreign Ministry said Somalia and Somaliland were “separate sovereign states with different governance realities,” stressing that Mogadishu could not determine Somaliland’s diplomatic engagements.
The ministry said Somaliland’s diplomatic relations with Israel were based on the two sides’ desire to promote friendly cooperation, development and regional stability.
It also dismissed allegations that Berbera could be used as a platform for aggression against other countries, describing the claim as “unfounded” and contrary to Somaliland’s commitment to peaceful relations.
Somaliland further condemned what it described as “threats of force and interference,” urging Somalia’s leadership to exercise restraint and focus on addressing its domestic challenges responsibly.
The dispute comes amid growing diplomatic ties between Somaliland and Israel.
In June, Somaliland President Abdirahman Abdullahi visited Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem, where both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the security and stability of the Horn of Africa.
Israel’s reported military footprint in the region could also provide it with a strategic hub for monitoring and striking Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, whose attacks on Red Sea shipping began in November 2023.
