Al Jazeera Speaks in Arabic: Israel's Somaliland Plans Are Unacceptable

Mahmud evaluated Israel's initiatives towards the Somaliland region in his interview with Al Jazeera Arabic television's "Al-Mukabele" program.

Saying that Israel plans to establish a naval base in Berbera and use the city's airport, Mahmud argued that the main purpose of these initiatives is to get closer to the Gulf countries and Iran.

Mahmud said, "We will not accept the Israeli presence in our country under any circumstances." he said.

Emphasizing that attempts to transfer the crises in the Middle East to Somalia will not be successful, Mahmud stated that the people of Somaliland are also against the Israeli presence.

Referring to relations with Ethiopia, Mahmud stated that his country is not against Ethiopia accessing the sea for commercial purposes.

Mahmud said that they are ready to allow Ethiopia to use 2 or 3 ports in Somalia for imports and exports, but the Addis Ababa administration has not yet made an official application on this issue.

It has strategic importance with its location close to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that they recognized Somaliland in his statement on December 26, 2025, and with this decision, Israel became "the first and only country to recognize Somaliland."

While the Federal Government of Somalia sees Somaliland as an integral part of Somalia within the framework of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Mogadishu administration argues that the agreements signed by the Somaliland administration with third countries are not legally valid.

Located in the northwest of Somalia and declaring unilateral independence, Somaliland has strategic importance with its location close to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, one of the most critical maritime trade passage points in the world.