In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera broadcast Saturday, Mohamud said Somalia “will never allow” the establishment of an Israeli military base in Somaliland and pledged to “confront” any such move. He warned that a proposed Israeli installation could serve as a launching point for attacks on neighboring countries.
The president’s remarks came amid widespread regional backlash over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision in December to recognize Somaliland, making Israel the first country in the world to acknowledge the northwestern territory as an independent state.
Strategic territory at global crossroads
Somaliland, which comprises the northwestern portion of what was once the British Protectorate, sits astride one of the world’s most critical maritime routes. The territory is flanked by multiple conflicts in both the Horn of Africa and the Middle East, making its strategic value particularly significant.
Israel’s move came months after The Associated Press reported that Israeli officials had contacted parties in Somaliland to discuss using the territory for forcibly displacing Palestinians amid Israel’s war on Gaza. Both Israel and Somaliland have denied those claims.
However, a Somaliland official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation told Israel’s Channel 12 in January that an Israeli military base is “on the table and being discussed,” though its establishment would depend on the terms of any agreement.
International law and sovereignty concerns
Somalia has denounced Israel’s recognition as an attack on its territorial integrity and national unity, a position backed by most African and Arab leaders. Mogadishu has urged Netanyahu to withdraw the recognition immediately.
“This is not just about Somalia,” Mohamud said in the interview. “Israel’s move interfering with Somalia’s sovereign and territorial integrity also undermines stability, security and trade in a way that affects the whole of Africa, the Red Sea and the wider world.”
The president drew connections between Israel’s actions in Gaza and its recognition of Somaliland, arguing both reflect a broader erosion of international governance structures.
“Key among the global concerns is the weakening of the established rules-based international order. That order is not intact any more,” Mohamud said. He warned that institutions created after World War II “are under grave threat” as the principle of “might is right” increasingly replaces adherence to international law.
Regional dynamics and international responses
Despite the controversy, Somaliland’s leader, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, known as Cirro, has welcomed Israel’s diplomatic recognition. He praised Netanyahu for his “leadership and commitment to promoting stability and peace” in the region.
In recent years, Somaliland has developed ties with the United Arab Emirates — a signatory to the Abraham Accords with Israel — and Taiwan as it has sought international acceptance as an independent state. The territory declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not been recognized by any United Nations member state until Israel’s recent move.
The United States has not yet signaled a major policy shift on the question of Somaliland’s status. However, in August, President Donald Trump suggested he was preparing to address the issue when asked about Somaliland during a White House news conference.
“Another complex one, but we’re working on that one — Somaliland,” Trump said. The president has previously made critical remarks about Somalia and Mohamud.
The dispute highlights growing tensions in the Horn of Africa, where competing regional powers are vying for influence amid ongoing security challenges and humanitarian crises. Somalia has long struggled with internal conflicts and the threat posed by the al-Shabab militant group, while also working to maintain its territorial integrity against separatist movements.
The international community has largely maintained the position that Somaliland remains part of Somalia under international law, despite the territory’s de facto independence for more than three decades.
