Somalia will not accept an Israeli presence in the country “under any circumstances,” President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has said.
In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, Mohamud said Somalia would resist any attempts to draw the country into conflicts in the Middle East.
The Somali president alleged that Israel was planning to establish a naval base in Berbera and use the city’s airport, saying the move was aimed at bringing Israel closer to the Gulf states and Iran.
“We will overcome the challenges posed to our country by Israeli moves,” Mohamud said.
Berbera is a port city on the Gulf of Aden in Somaliland, a self-declared republic in northwestern Somalia. Israel recognised Somaliland in December 2025, while Somalia continues to regard the territory as part of its sovereign territory.
Mohamud described Israel as a destabilising force and accused it of failing to respect international law. He also criticised Israel’s recognition of Somaliland.
The president said Somalia would not accept an Israeli presence in the region and maintained that residents of Somaliland were opposed to such a move.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has operated independently for more than three decades, although its status remains disputed.
Somalia’s fight against armed groups
Mohamud said the United States remains Somalia’s strongest partner in the fight against armed groups.
He said al-Shabab no longer has a significant presence in Somalia’s major cities, although the group continues to operate in parts of southern and central Somalia and has carried out deadly attacks in Somalia and neighbouring Kenya.
The president also said Somalia’s relations with Ethiopia were improving. He added that Mogadishu had no objection to Ethiopia gaining access to the sea through agreements allowing it to use Somali ports for economic purposes.
President criticises Houthis
Mohamud also accused Yemen’s Houthi movement of destabilising the region and disrupting navigation around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
His comments came as the Houthis continued military operations along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and intensified attacks linked to the wider regional conflict.
The Somali president’s full interview is expected to be broadcast on Al Jazeera Arabic on Sunday.
Tags
World News