Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
A senior official in Somaliland has confirmed that discussions are underway with Israel about the potential establishment of an Israeli military base in the self-declared African republic, marking a significant development in the rapidly expanding relationship between the two sides.
Speaking to Israeli media, Deqa Qasim, director of the political department at Somaliland’s Foreign Ministry in Hargeisa, said that hosting an Israeli military base is among the issues being discussed, though no final decision has been reached. According to Qasim, the matter will depend on the outcome of broader negotiations between the two sides, including the planned opening of reciprocal embassies.
The acknowledgment represents a notable shift in tone from earlier Somaliland denials of Somali government accusations that relations with Israel involved military cooperation or the resettlement of Palestinians. While Qasim stressed that no agreement has been finalized, her comments confirm that security cooperation is a central component of the emerging partnership.
She said cooperation with Israel would focus on counterterrorism and maritime security, areas of growing concern in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Somaliland’s strategic position near Yemen places it close to key shipping lanes and regional flashpoints, including areas controlled by Iran-backed Houthi forces, which have launched repeated missile and drone attacks toward Israel during the war in Gaza.
Beyond security, Qasim highlighted economic incentives driving closer ties, citing potential Israeli investment in Somaliland’s natural resources and infrastructure. “We see significant opportunity for real cooperation,” she said, portraying the relationship as multidimensional rather than purely military.
Israel recently recognized Somaliland as a state, becoming the first country to do so, despite Somaliland lacking international recognition since it declared independence from Somalia in 1991. The move was welcomed in Hargeisa but criticized by Somalia’s federal government, which considers Somaliland part of its sovereign territory and has accused Israel of destabilizing the region.
Qasim also said Somaliland would be open to establishing its embassy in Jerusalem, calling it a natural choice. Such a move would align Somaliland closely with Israeli positions on the city’s status, a highly sensitive issue internationally, and could further complicate its relations with Arab and Muslim-majority states.
Despite confirming talks on a military base, Somaliland officials have continued to deny reports that they agreed to resettle Palestinians from Gaza. Qasim reiterated that her government has made no such commitment. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar echoed that position, stating that the agreements signed with Somaliland last month do not include provisions for relocating Palestinians.
Speaking separately to Israeli media, Sa’ar said the issue of Gaza resettlement is not part of the bilateral agreement, though he did not categorically rule out the possibility of Somaliland accepting Palestinians in the future. Sa’ar recently visited Somaliland and met with its president, underscoring the growing diplomatic engagement.
The question of relocating Gazans has become increasingly contentious. Initial Israeli proposals advocating voluntary migration from Gaza have lost momentum amid international opposition and accusations that such plans amount to forced displacement. US President Donald Trump, who first floated the idea earlier this year, has since scaled back his support, while most countries have refused to accept Palestinian refugees.
Still, Trump has suggested that many Gazans would leave if given the opportunity, a view that continues to fuel speculation about third-country arrangements despite the lack of concrete agreements.
For Somaliland, engagement with Israel offers potential diplomatic recognition, security cooperation, and economic investment, all valuable assets for a territory seeking to solidify its de facto independence. For Israel, the relationship offers a strategic foothold near one of the world’s most volatile maritime corridors.
As talks continue, the prospect of an Israeli military presence in Somaliland underscores how the war in Gaza and broader regional rivalries are reshaping alliances far beyond the Middle East, extending into the Horn of Africa and the critical waterways that link Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
