Somalia: Somaliland Rejects Somalia's Claims Over Israel, Berbera

What the report says

Somaliland has pushed back against remarks by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud about its ties with Israel and the port of Berbera, saying Mogadishu has no authority over Somaliland’s foreign policy. In a statement carried by Horn Diplomat and distributed by AllAfrica, Somaliland’s foreign ministry described the president’s comments in a recent Al Jazeera interview as misleading and reaffirmed its claim to sovereignty.

The response focused on three issues: Somaliland’s diplomatic relations with Israel, the role of Berbera, and Ethiopia’s access to the sea. Somaliland said its ties with Israel are based on decisions made by two sovereign parties and are intended to support cooperation, development and regional stability. It also rejected any suggestion that Berbera would be used as a launch point for aggression, calling such claims unfounded.

The ministry further said Somaliland has long supported negotiated arrangements for Ethiopian sea access and accused Somalia of taking an inconsistent position by opposing a January 2024 memorandum of understanding between Somaliland and Ethiopia. In a broader assertion of statehood, Somaliland pointed to its 1960 independence, the 1991 restoration of its sovereignty, and its record of institutions and elections. The dispute highlights the continuing clash between Somaliland’s self-declared independence and Somalia’s rejection of that status.