Somalia Rejects Foreign Military Bases as President Accuses Israel of Seeking Red Sea Foothold

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has rejected the establishment of foreign military bases intended to advance outside powers’ strategic interests, accusing Israel of seeking a military foothold in the region through its recognition of Somaliland.

In an interview with Sky News, Mohamud said Somalia would not allow its territory to be used as a platform for proxy military operations as competition intensifies around the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa.

Asked about the activities of Russia, Israel, Türkiye, the United States, Ethiopia and other regional actors, the president said his government had not provided opportunities for countries seeking to establish proxy bases in Somalia.

He also confirmed that Somalia had cancelled its defence and security agreements with the United Arab Emirates, declaring that Emirati activities inside the country were illegal following the cancellation.

The remarks reflect Mogadishu’s concerns over foreign strategic interests in a region connecting the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean, through which significant international shipping traffic passes.

Israel’s Recognition of Somaliland

Mohamud accused Israel of pursuing strategic interests rather than supporting Somaliland’s development or political aspirations.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has operated with its own governing institutions for more than three decades, although Somalia’s federal government considers the territory part of the Somali Republic.

Israel’s recognition of Somaliland in December 2025 marked a significant development in the longstanding dispute over the territory’s status.

Asked why he believed Israel had recognised Somaliland, Mohamud said he viewed the decision as an attempt to secure access to the strategically important Red Sea region.

“Israel wants the Red Sea. That’s the only reason,” he said, arguing that Israel was seeking a naval base in the area to bring its military closer to the Gulf region.

These were the president’s allegations; the interview did not independently establish that Israel had secured an agreement to establish a naval base in Somaliland.

Mohamud said Somalia would oppose any arrangement that threatened its sovereignty or allowed foreign powers to establish military facilities on territory claimed by the federal government.

His comments followed earlier remarks to Al Jazeera in which he alleged that Israel intended to establish a naval base in Berbera and use the city’s airport. Those allegations have not been independently established by the interview transcript.

Somalia Insists on Territorial Unity

The president also defended Somalia’s territorial integrity, distinguishing the Somaliland dispute from disagreements with the federal member states of Puntland and Jubaland.

He said Puntland and Jubaland remained part of Somalia and that their disagreements with the federal government should be resolved through dialogue.

Somaliland, by contrast, maintains that it is an independent state, a position Mogadishu rejects.

Mohamud said Somalia and Somaliland had held talks in the past, with their last meeting taking place in Djibouti in December 2024. He expressed willingness to resume dialogue, saying the parties needed to return to an agreed political process.

He also pointed to the historical union between the former British Somaliland protectorate and the former Italian-administered territory in 1960, arguing that Somalia remained united until the collapse of the central government in 1991.

The president said Mogadishu continued to serve as a meeting point for Somalis from across the country, including people from Hargeisa, Bosaso and other regions.

He described the capital as a place where communities from different parts of Somalia live, conduct business and maintain economic interests, arguing that these connections reinforced the case for national unity.

US Position on Somalia’s Unity

Mohamud welcomed the United States’ continued recognition of Somalia as one country, saying Washington had maintained that position despite Somaliland’s efforts to secure international recognition.

He said the federal government appreciated the US stance and expected Washington to continue respecting Somalia’s territorial integrity.

The president also dismissed the significance of Somaliland’s diplomatic outreach to Washington, noting that individuals could travel to the United States and establish personal or professional relationships without necessarily changing the US government’s official position.

His comments highlighted the importance Mogadishu attaches to international diplomatic support as it seeks to counter Somaliland’s campaign for recognition.

Somalia Seeks to Avoid Regional Conflict

The interview also addressed rising tensions involving Ethiopia and Eritrea and the wider security challenges facing the Horn of Africa.

Mohamud said Somalia would not participate in a conflict between the two neighbouring countries, describing any confrontation as an issue for them to resolve.

He said Somalia maintained relations with both Ethiopia and Eritrea and did not intend to interfere in their internal affairs.

The president added that Somalia remained focused on its own security challenges and was not yet in a position to provide security assistance to other countries.

Somalia continues to depend on international security partnerships while gradually assuming greater responsibility for protecting its territory.

Mohamud said Somali forces were taking over security duties as African Union deployments were reduced, describing the transition as part of the country’s progress towards greater self-reliance.

Piracy and Red Sea Security

The president identified piracy and the conflict in Yemen as major challenges affecting security around the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

He argued that international naval operations had suppressed piracy in the past without addressing the conditions that enabled it to return.

Mohamud said a lasting response required better coastal security, stronger maritime law enforcement and economic opportunities for young people living in coastal communities.

He emphasised that pirates operated from land-based networks and that efforts to combat them needed to address the conditions supporting their activities.

Somalia’s coastline, which he put at approximately 3,400 kilometres, presents a major challenge for a country with limited resources and extensive security demands.

The president called for international assistance to strengthen Somalia’s capacity to protect its territorial waters and coastal communities.

He also argued that poverty and a lack of economic opportunities contributed to the risks of piracy, making development and employment important components of maritime security.

Mohamud’s remarks underscored the challenge facing Somalia as it seeks to rebuild state institutions while navigating competition among foreign powers around the Red Sea.

His government is attempting to strengthen national security, preserve territorial integrity and maintain relationships with international partners without becoming entangled in wider regional conflicts.

The president’s position combines opposition to foreign military arrangements that undermine Somali sovereignty with calls for continued international support for the country’s security institutions.

However, the interview did not announce a new maritime security agreement or establish that a foreign military base had been agreed upon in Somaliland.

Instead, Mohamud used the interview to outline his government’s objections to foreign military ambitions in the region and its preference for resolving Somalia’s internal political disputes through dialogue.