The Israel and Somalia They secretly collaborated "for many years" in the field of security, revealed the Israeli Defence Minister, welcoming the president of this region that has seceded from Somalia and is recognised as an independent country only from Israel.
Their cooperation in the field of information, security and defence was something many were able to do, but for the first time it is stated directly by an Israeli official.
"Israel and Somaliland have maintained a friendly relationship for years, based on their common interests, democratic values and commitment to security and stability," said Israel Kats, welcoming Abdirahman Mohammed Abdullahi, the president of Somaliland who is making his first official visit abroad.
"For many years, we have been discreetly cooperating in a series of operations that will remain confidential," Kats added, according to his office announcement. "Today, we are determined to raise our cooperation to new peaks," he added.
Somaliland, which split from Somalia in 1991, is strategically located in the Gulf of Aden. It has its own currency, passport and army, but is not recognized by the international community. Israel recognised it in late December as a "independent and sovereign state" and on Monday Abdullah inaugurated the Somali embassy in Jerusalem.
In recent months, many experts have considered the existence of an Israeli base in the Berbera port, in the Gulf of Aden. "Israel is developing military capabilities in Somaliland (...) We now have a base there" said in early May a retired Israeli brigadier, Amir Avivivi, without specifying exactly where. "The world does not know it, but the Israeli Navy acts in the region," he added, noting that Israel's ability to deal with Yemen's Huthi rebels (on the opposite side of the Gulf of Aden) who are Iran's allies and launched dozens of ballistic missiles against Israeli territory after the Gaza war began in October 2023.
However, Somali Defence Minister Mohammed Yusuf Ali said today that Israel has no basis in his country but trains the police and its army. Speaking to Reuters agency on the margins of a business forum organized by Israel's foreign ministry in Tel Aviv, Yusuf Ali described the information as negotiating the establishment of an Israeli military base.
"There is no Israeli military presence, no bases in Somaliland. But Israel helps Somaliland, (...) they support us in training our police and army," he insisted.
Somalia has rejected the recognition of Somaliland and described it as a "intentional attack" on its national sovereignty. Israel, however, says that recognition does not constitute hostile action against Somalia.