Somalia’s president says Mogadishu would confront any attempt to establish an Israeli military presence in the breakaway region, despite no confirmation such plans exist.
Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said in an interview with Al Jazeera that Somalia would “never allow” the establishment of an Israeli military base in Somaliland and would confront any attempt to do so.
According to Mohamud, the very idea of an Israeli base in Somaliland would constitute a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and of the international order. He warned that such a presence could serve as a “launchpad” for operations against neighboring countries in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.
“We will fight according to our capabilities. Of course, we will defend ourselves,” Mohamud said, adding: “That means we will stand against any Israeli force that arrives – we will never allow this.”