Full Breakdown
Somalia Rejects Israeli Plans for a Naval Base in Berbera
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced that Somalia will not tolerate any Israeli military presence in the country, specifically rejecting reports that Israel intends to establish a naval base and use the airport in Berbera, the principal port of the self-declared Somaliland region. Mohamud framed the alleged Israeli move as part of a broader “Greater Israel” vision and described Israel as a “destabilising force” that does not respect international law.
Background & Context
In December 2025, Israel became the first United Nations member state to recognise Somaliland’s self-declared independence, a step condemned by Mogadishu as a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty. Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has operated its own government and institutions for more than three decades but remains unrecognised by the international community aside from Israel.
Berbera sits on the Gulf of Aden opposite Yemen and near the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a chokepoint linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The port’s strategic location has drawn heightened interest from regional powers amid ongoing security challenges, including Houthi attacks on commercial shipping and broader Red Sea instability.
Official Statements & Responses
- Somaliland Defence Minister Mohamed Yusuf Ali told Reuters that no Israeli military presence or negotiations for a base exist, though he confirmed Israeli training for Somaliland’s security forces.
- Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi similarly told Reuters that no agreement for a base had been reached, while leaving open the possibility of broader military cooperation.
These statements illustrate a divergence between the Somali federal government’s rejection of any Israeli foothold and Somaliland officials’ denial of a formal base agreement.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Somali federal claim: President Mohamud asserts that Israel plans a naval base and airport use in Berbera.
- Somaliland denial: Both the defence minister and the president state that no such agreement exists, acknowledging only training cooperation.
The sources do not provide independent verification of any formal Israeli-Somaliland contract, leaving the exact nature of any negotiations unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We will overcome the challenges posed to our country by Israeli moves,” — Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, president
- “Egyptian foreign policy is based on firm principles, foremost among which is respect for the sovereignty of states and the unity and territorial integrity thereof, and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries,” — Nader Zaki, a spokesperson for Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
These quotations capture the Somali president’s resolve and an external perspective on state sovereignty.