In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud stated that Somalia will not accept Israeli presence in the country "under any circumstances" and will resist any attempts to be drawn into the crises of the Middle East. Mohamud claimed that Israel is planning to establish a naval base in Berbera and utilize the city's airport, asserting that the true intention is to strengthen ties with Gulf states and Iran.
Berbera is a port city located on the Gulf of Aden coast in Somaliland, a self-declared republic in northwestern Somalia that Israel recognized last year, although it is claimed by the Somali government in Mogadishu. The city is strategically positioned near the Bab al-Mandeb strait, facing Yemen across the water. The Iran-aligned Houthis have previously enforced blockades on ships linked to Israel in that area.
Mohamud emphasized, "We will overcome the challenges posed to our country by Israeli moves," during the interview. He characterized Israeli plans as part of the "Greater Israel" project, a term associated with various proposals for Israeli territorial expansion beyond its current borders, which some interpretations suggest extend from the Nile to the Euphrates. While Israel has not officially adopted this as policy, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed a connection to the vision in an August 2025 interview, which drew condemnation from Arab governments.
The Somali president labeled Israel as a "destabilizing force" that does not adhere to international law and criticized Tel Aviv's recognition of Somaliland in December. He noted that no country other than Israel recognizes Somaliland, and the region's residents oppose any Israeli presence.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has operated independently for over three decades, but it had not received recognition from any United Nations member state until Israel's acknowledgment.
In the interview, Mohamud stated that the United States remains Somalia's strongest partner in combating terrorism, asserting that al-Shabab has no presence in major cities, which he believes prevents the group from taking control in Somalia. Al-Shabab is a Somali armed group that emerged from the Islamic Courts Union in the mid-2000s and pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda in 2012, having fought against Somalia's federal government and carried out attacks in Mogadishu and neighboring Kenya.
Regarding regional relations, Mohamud mentioned that Somalia's ties with neighboring Ethiopia are positive, and Mogadishu does not oppose Addis Ababa gaining access to the sea through an agreement to use Somali ports for economic purposes. Ethiopia has been landlocked since Eritrea's independence in 1993 and relies on Djibouti's ports for trade. In January 2024, Addis Ababa signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland regarding sea access, which Somalia condemned as a violation of its sovereignty, though Somalia and Ethiopia later agreed to ease tensions.
Mohamud also accused Yemen's Houthis of destabilizing the region and disrupting navigation in the Bab al-Mandeb strait. His remarks come as the Houthis attempt to capitalize on recent military gains along Yemen's Red Sea coast. Yemeni government forces have reportedly maintained their positions on the front lines and claimed to have inflicted significant losses on the Houthis. The Houthis have intensified their attacks on Saudi Arabia, but Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has vowed to uphold the kingdom's security, stating that the Yemeni rebels have chosen "chaos and destruction, threatening the Yemeni people and the region."
The full interview with President Mohamud is scheduled to be broadcast on Al Jazeera Arabic on Sunday.