By Steven Scheer
TEL AVIV, June 17 (Reuters) – Somaliland’s Defence Minister Mohamed Yusuf Ali told Reuters on Wednesday that Israel maintains no base in the region, though it is training the territory’s police and military, while the breakaway state seeks Israeli investment in agriculture and other sectors.
Ali was among a sizable delegation visiting Israel this week to commemorate President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi’s inaugural official visit, following Israel’s historic December recognition of Somaliland as an independent state.
Located on the Horn of Africa, Somaliland has maintained de facto autonomy and relative peace and stability since 1991, when it separated from Somalia amid the latter’s civil war.
Somalia rejected Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, calling it a “deliberate attack” on its sovereignty.
The Somali Guardian reported on Sunday that Israel is alleged to have established an intelligence presence in Somaliland and that talks are ongoing about potentially creating a military base.
Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of a business conference in Tel Aviv, Yusuf Ali dismissed reports that Israel was in negotiations to establish a military base in the territory as “rumours”.
“There is no Israeli military presence or military bases in Somaliland,” he said. “But Israel is helping Somaliland … they are supporting to train some of our police and military.”
Michael Lotem, Israel’s ambassador to Somaliland, declined to comment. Israel has said its recognition was not a hostile step toward Somalia.
Several countries have questioned whether the move was aimed at establishing military bases in a location where Israel could counter Yemen’s Houthi movement, which fired rockets at Israel during the two‑year Gaza war and whose attacks on vessels in the Red Sea disrupted shipping there.
In February, Abdullahi told Reuters that while Somaliland hopes for future military cooperation with Israel, establishing Israeli military bases had not been discussed.
During the conference, Abdullahi said he aimed to deepen economic ties with Israel, describing it as a valued partner and noting Somaliland’s abundant natural resources and strategic maritime position that provides access to Africa.
Somaliland is eager to tap into Israel’s technological expertise in agriculture, livestock, water management, renewable energy, healthcare and cybersecurity, Abdullahi said.
Eden Bar‑Tal, Israel’s Foreign Ministry director general, said that being the first country to recognise Somaliland placed Israeli entrepreneurs at a significant and unique advantage.
