Key facts
- Somaliland's Defence Minister Mohamed Yusuf Ali denied reports of Israeli military base negotiations.
- Ali confirmed Israel provides training for Somaliland's police and military forces.
- Israel officially recognized Somaliland's independence in December.
- Somalia rejected Israel's recognition of Somaliland, deeming it an attack on its sovereignty.
- Reports had suggested Israel was establishing an intelligence base and discussing a military base in Somaliland.
Somaliland's Defence Minister Mohamed Yusuf Ali has denied reports of Israeli military base negotiations, stating that while Israel is involved in training Somaliland's police and military, no such bases exist. This statement comes after Israel officially recognized Somaliland as an independent state in December, a move that Somalia has rejected as an attack on its sovereignty.
Ali dismissed reports of military base discussions as rumors, emphasizing that there is no Israeli military presence in Somaliland. The growing ties between the two entities have included symbolic gestures and discussions about deepening economic cooperation, with Somaliland's President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi seeking Israeli investment in sectors like agriculture and renewable energy.
News reports and analyses have speculated about Israel's potential interest in establishing a presence near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical maritime chokepoint. Berbera International Airport in Somaliland has been identified as a possible location for such a presence, potentially involving the UAE, which already has a military base agreement there.
Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has previously stated that Somalia rejected overtures from Israel regarding relations and warned of potential problems arising from Somaliland's ties with Israel. Somaliland's strategic location on the Gulf of Aden places it in proximity to the Ansarallah movement, which has targeted Israel.