Berbera: Somaliland denies any plans for an Israeli military base

In early October 2026, Somaliland denied any plans to host an Israeli naval or air base in Berbera, its strategic port on the Gulf of Aden. In a statement reported by the regional site Horn Diplomat and picked up by allAfrica on October 5, 2026, its Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the Somali president's comments as "misleading" and disputed the idea that Berbera could serve as a "platform for aggression against other countries."

This denial comes in response to an interview given by Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to Al Jazeera, published on October 3, 2026. In it, the Somali head of state claimed that Israel intended to establish a naval base in Berbera and use the city's airport, with the true objective of moving closer to the Gulf states and Iran. Somalia, he added, will not accept an Israeli presence "under any circumstances" and refuses to be dragged into Middle Eastern conflicts. He described Israel as a "destabilizing force."

A battle over sovereignty

Beyond the military issue, the question of who has the right to speak on behalf of the territory is being raised. Somaliland has reaffirmed its sovereignty and rejected any authority from Mogadishu over its foreign policy, presenting its diplomatic relations with Israel as "sovereign decisions" intended to promote cooperation, development, and regional stability. Hargeisa accuses Somalia of interference and threats of using force, and calls for restraint.

The territory, which declared its independence in 1991 after separating from Somalia, was for a long time not recognized by any United Nations member state. Israel was the first to do so in December 2025, according to Al Jazeera: a recognition that has reshaped the diplomatic balance of the Horn in just a few months.

Berbera, a coveted maritime gateway

Berbera faces Yemen, near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the most sensitive passages for global trade, where the Houthis have imposed blockades on shipping. This geography explains the interest of external powers in a port that Ethiopia, which is landlocked, is also eyeing: Somaliland says it supports Ethiopian access to the sea, provided it is achieved through negotiated arrangements.

The Horn of Africa is once again becoming a chessboard where non-African states are placing their pieces. The question raised by these conflicting denials is less about the veracity of any specific base and more about control: who decides, in both Hargeisa and Mogadishu, what becomes of the African coasts of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.