Somaliland official says hosting Israeli military base is on the table, contradicting previous denial

An official in Somaliland tells Israeli media that ties with Jerusalem entail discussions on potentially setting up an Israeli military base in the African self-ruled territory.

Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia that Israel recently became the first country to recognize as a state, has previously denied Somali accusations that the relations include “the resettlement of Palestinians or the establishment of military bases in Somaliland.”

But Israel’s Channel 12 news cites Deqa Qasim, the director of the political department in Hargeisa’s Foreign Ministry, as saying in an interview that such a military base is on the table and being discussed, though whether it will be established depends on the content of an agreement between the sides after opening mutual embassies.

Qasim is further quoted as saying security cooperation with Israel will include fight against terror and involve the maritime arena.

Somaliland is strategically placed near the coast of Yemen, where the Iran-backed Houthis control much of the country and have fired dozens of ballistic missiles at Israel during the war against Hamas in Gaza.

In the interview, Qasim is also said to express openness to placing Somaliland’s embassy in Jerusalem, calling it natural for it to be established in the capital.