Somalia won’t accept Israeli presence ‘under any circumstances’: President

What the report says

Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud told Al Jazeera in an exclusive interview that his government would not accept an Israeli presence in the country “under any circumstances.” He said Somalia would resist efforts to draw it into wider Middle East conflicts, and he claimed Israel was planning a naval base in Berbera and could use the city’s airport. Al Jazeera reported the remarks on 3 October 2026.

Mohamud linked those alleged plans to Israel’s broader regional ambitions and described Israel as a destabilising actor that does not follow international law. He also criticised Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, the breakaway region in northwestern Somalia that governs itself but is not internationally recognised by any other state. Berbera lies on the Gulf of Aden coast near the strategic Bab al-Mandeb strait, a waterway affected by attacks and disruption linked to Yemen’s Houthi movement.

The interview also touched on regional security and Somalia’s own conflict with armed groups. Mohamud said the United States remains Somalia’s main partner against terrorism and said al-Shabab does not hold major cities. He said relations with Ethiopia are good, while also accusing the Houthis of destabilising the region and interfering with shipping. The comments come against a backdrop of sensitive Red Sea politics, Somalia’s sovereignty dispute over Somaliland, and broader competition among regional powers.