Somalia's federal government has warned against reported Israeli plans to establish a military base in the breakaway region of Somaliland, with a senior minister telling Al Jazeera the development could drag the country into "external confrontations."
The warning, delivered in an Al Jazeera interview, underscores Mogadishu's opposition to any foreign military presence in Somaliland, the self-declared republic that broke away from Somalia in 1991 but remains internationally unrecognized.
According to Al Jazeera, Israel has reportedly been exploring military cooperation arrangements with Somaliland, though specific details of any proposed base remain unclear. Somalia's federal government maintains that any such facility would violate its sovereignty over what it considers its northern territory.
"These plans risk dragging Somalia into external confrontations," the Somali minister told Al Jazeera, highlighting concerns that an Israeli military presence could entangle the Horn of Africa nation in broader Middle Eastern conflicts.
The development adds another layer of complexity to an already tense regional dynamic following Ethiopia's January 2024 memorandum of understanding with Somaliland for naval and commercial sea access. That deal, which Somalia also vehemently opposed, sparked a diplomatic crisis that required African Union mediation.
Somaliland has consistently sought international partnerships to bolster its sovereignty claims and break its diplomatic isolation. The territory operates its own government, military, and currency but lacks formal recognition from any country. Its strategic location along the Gulf of Aden shipping lanes makes it attractive to international partners seeking regional footholds.
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The reported Israeli interest comes amid heightened militarization of the Red Sea corridor, where Houthi attacks on shipping have prompted increased naval deployments by the United States and its allies. The US maintains a significant military presence at Camp Lemonnier in neighboring Djibouti.
The timing is particularly sensitive as Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed recently met with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Djibouti, their first face-to-face talks since the Ethiopia-Somaliland port agreement triggered the diplomatic standoff. Regional observers suggest the reported Israeli base plans may have featured in their discussions.
Somalia's concerns reflect broader anxieties about the Horn of Africa becoming a theater for external powers' strategic competition, particularly as the Gaza war and regional tensions continue to reshape Middle Eastern alliances and military deployments.
