Somalia won’t accept Israeli presence ‘under any circumstances’: President

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud stated that Somalia will never permit Israeli forces to operate within its territory, declaring an unconditional stance against any effort to draw the nation into Middle‑East conflicts.

During an exclusive Al Jazeera interview, the president explained that Israel was preparing to establish a naval base in the strategic port city of Berbera and to utilize its airport extensively. He argued that these targets reflect Israel’s broader goal of bringing the country closer to Gulf states and Iran.

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Berbera is a port city on the Gulf of Aden coast in the self‑declared republic of Somaliland—recognized by Israel last year but claimed by Mogadishu.

Berbera lies opposite Yemen across the water, near the critical Bab al‑Mandeb strait. The Iran‑aligned Houthi movement previously imposed a blockade on ships linked to Israel in the area.

“We will overcome any challenges that Israeli actions pose to our country,” the president said in his wide‑ranging interview.

He further noted that the proposed Israeli moves constitute part of what has become known as the “Greater Israel” concept—a series of proposals rooted in various ideological frameworks for expanding Israeli sovereignty beyond its current borders. While Israel has not officially embraced this vision, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged a familial connection to the idea during an August 2025 interview, drawing condemnation from several Arab nations.

The South Somali leader characterized Israel as a destabilizing actor that fails to honor international law. He also criticized Tel Aviv’s recent recognition of Somaliland as disrespectful to regional consensus.

Only Israel is willing to engage formally with Somaliland, yet virtually every resident of the northern region opposes any Israeli presence, according to Mohamud.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has governed itself autonomously for more than three decades. Its lack of broad diplomatic recognition remained until the 2020 decision to recognize Israel.

Fight Against Armed Groups

The president reiterated that the United States remains Somalia’s primary partner in combating terrorism, emphasizing that al‑Shabab lacks a foothold in major urban centers and therefore poses no immediate threat to national stability.

Al‑Shabab is a militant organization that originated from the Islamic Courts Union in the mid‑2000s and pledged allegiance to al‑Qaeda in 2012. Over the past decade, the group has held territory in parts of southern and central Somalia, launched deadly incidents in Mogadishu and neighboring Kenya, and continued its insurgency throughout the Horn of Africa.

On regional matters, Mohamud highlighted that Somalia’s relationship with Ethiopia is solid, noting that Mogadishu welcomes Addis Ababa’s gain in maritime access through Somali territory.

Despite prior tensions, Ethiopia and Somalia later eased hostilities after signing a memorandum of understanding in January 2024 regarding sea passage rights, which Somalia deemed a breach of its sovereignty.

Houthis ‘Destabilizing’ Region

Mohamud also accused Yemen’s Houthi revolutionaries of “destabilizing” the region and creating disruptions in navigation along the Bab al‑Mandeb strait.

His remarks follow the group’s latest kinetic campaign that seized much of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline last month.

Yemeni government forces have managed to hold their positions on the front lines and have reportedly inflicted heavy casualties on the Houthi militia.

The Houthis have recently intensified attacks on Saudi Arabia, but Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman vowed to safeguard the kingdom’s security, labeling the rebel tactics as chaotic and destructive to both the Yemeni populace and the broader region.

The full interview with President Mohamud is slated for broadcast on Al Jazeera Arabic on Sunday.

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