Somalia rejects Israeli claim of contacts, says no ties with Israel
Saturday December 13, 2025
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MOGADISHU (AX) — Somalia’s government has forcefully denied having any ties or communications with Israel, rebutting a public assertion by an Israeli official that the two sides have been in contact.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ali Mohamed Omar, widely known as Ali Balcad, said Thursday there is “no truth” to the suggestion that Israel and Somalia maintain channels of communication. His remarks followed comments by Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel, who told i24NEWS that Israel has had “certain communication” with the Somali government.
“There is no relationship between Somalia and Israel, and Somalia’s position on Israeli policies has not changed,” Balcad said, emphasizing that the country has neither diplomatic nor political ties with Israel.
Haskel, in her interview Wednesday, framed the alleged contacts in the context of shared security concerns in the Horn of Africa. “I think that the situation there is very dangerous, and I think it will affect the rest of the world,” she said, pointing to potential risks for maritime routes, fisheries and global trade in waters off the region.
Somalia and Israel do not have diplomatic relations. Somalia, a Muslim-majority nation, is a member of the Arab League and has consistently affirmed support for the Palestinian cause. Somali officials have repeatedly stated that the country has never recognized Israel and does not engage with it bilaterally.
The exchange comes amid heightened scrutiny of security dynamics around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical chokepoint linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Earlier this year, a United Nations report cited what it described as a “developing relationship” between Yemen’s Houthi movement and Somalia-based Al-Shabaab across the waterway, warning of regional and international security implications. While the report did not detail formal ties between governments, it underscored concerns that militant coordination could threaten shipping lanes and coastal economies.
Somalia’s categorical denial signals the political sensitivity of any suggestion of contact with Israel, particularly as regional conflicts reverberate across the Horn of Africa and the broader Middle East. Mogadishu’s stance also aligns with its longstanding foreign policy posture, which centers on solidarity with Palestinians and distance from Israel.
Haskel did not disclose specifics about the alleged communication or provide details on timing, scope or interlocutors. Somali officials did not indicate any change in policy or acknowledge any indirect or security-focused coordination with Israel.
The Somali government’s response appears aimed at closing the door on speculation that it might be edging toward engagement with Israel in light of maritime security threats. By reiterating there are “no diplomatic or political ties,” Mogadishu sought to remove ambiguity over a topic that carries domestic, regional and religious resonance.
Israel and Somalia remain without formal relations, and there was no immediate indication from either side of further public statements beyond this week’s exchange. For now, Somalia’s position remains as it has long stated: no ties with Israel and continued backing for the Palestinian cause.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
