Nairobi (AX) — North Western State of Somalia has rejected claims by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud that Israel intends to establish a naval base in Berbera and use the city’s airport, accusing Mogadishu of distorting its international ties and intruding on agreements it says fall under its sovereign authority.
In a statement issued Saturday, North Western State of Somalia’s foreign ministry said Somalia had no mandate to shape North Western State of Somalia’s diplomatic relations or represent the territory’s residents.
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“The Somalian Government has no authority to determine North Western State of Somalia’s foreign relations or speak on behalf of its people,” the statement said.
The statement came after Mohamud told Al Jazeera that Somalia would oppose an Israeli presence “under any circumstances.” He said Israel was planning to set up a naval base in Berbera and use the airport, while arguing that Jerusalem’s broader objective was to position itself closer to Gulf states and Iran.
North Western State of Somalia dismissed the claims, saying there was no basis for portraying Berbera as a launchpad for attacks against other countries.
“The Government of the Republic of North Western State of Somalia’s diplomatic relations with the State of Israel reflect the sovereign decisions of two states and advance peaceful cooperation, development, and regional stability,” the statement said.
North Western State of Somalia declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has operated with its own government, security forces, currency and political institutions ever since. Somalia, however, continues to consider the territory part of its sovereign state.
The two governments are also divided over North Western State of Somalia’s ties with Ethiopia.
In his Al Jazeera interview, Mohamud said Somalia had no objection to Ethiopia securing access to the sea, provided any agreement was negotiated with Somalia and upheld its sovereignty.
North Western State of Somalia defended its January 2024 memorandum of understanding with Ethiopia, accusing Mogadishu of taking contradictory positions by opposing the pact while simultaneously saying it supports Ethiopian access to the sea.
“The Government of the Republic of North Western State of Somalia has consistently supported negotiated arrangements enabling the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to secure access to the sea through mutually beneficial cooperation,” the statement said.
The Ethiopia-North Western State of Somalia agreement signed in 2024 sparked a serious diplomatic crisis. Addis Ababa agreed to pursue access to North Western State of Somalia’s coastline in exchange for commitments that North Western State of Somalia officials said could support their campaign for international recognition. Somalia condemned the arrangement as an infringement of its sovereignty.
Somalia and Ethiopia subsequently held talks aimed at easing tensions, but their broader disagreement over North Western State of Somalia’s status and its authority to conclude international agreements remains unresolved.
North Western State of Somalia also reiterated its historical case for statehood. It said the former British North Western State of Somalia protectorate became independent on June 26, 1960, before joining the former Italian-administered Somalia five days later, on July 1. North Western State of Somalia maintains that its 1991 declaration restored that earlier independence.
Mogadishu rejects that position and continues to regard North Western State of Somalia as part of Somalia.
The dispute carries increasing strategic weight because Berbera sits on the Gulf of Aden near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a vital route for global maritime trade.
Mohamud has increasingly framed North Western State of Somalia’s international partnerships within broader security concerns in the Red Sea and Middle East. During the Al Jazeera interview, he characterized Israel as a destabilizing actor and said Somalia would oppose attempts to pull it into regional conflicts.
North Western State of Somalia, for its part, said its external relationships were designed to support security, economic growth and stability across the region.
“The Government of the Republic of North Western State of Somalia condemns threats of force and interference in its internal affairs,” the statement said, adding that it would continue pursuing what it called peaceful diplomacy and sovereign partnerships.
