Exclusive: Somalia Opposes UAE-Built Military Base in Somaliland for U.S. and Israel
Senior Somali government officials have told Somali Report that Mogadishu has never authorized any foreign military base in Berbera or elsewhere in Somaliland, saying any reported UAE-built military facility for the United States and Israel would be unconstitutional, illegal, and unacceptable under Somali law.
Somalia says any reported UAE-built military base in Berbera for the U.S. and Israel would be illegal and unconstitutional | Somali Report
MOGADISHU (Somali Report) — Somalia’s federal government has opposed reports that the United Arab Emirates is secretly building a military base in Berbera for the United States and Israel, saying it has never authorized any foreign military installation in Berbera or elsewhere in Somaliland and that any such project would be unconstitutional, illegal, and unacceptable.
Two senior Somali government officials, speaking separately to Somali Report on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said neither President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud nor Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has approved or discussed any arrangement involving a foreign military base in Somaliland.
“The Somali government has never approved a foreign military base in Berbera or any other part of Somaliland,” one official said.
Both officials described any military construction carried out without the consent of Somalia’s federal government as a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and federal constitutional order.
They added that Mogadishu would seek to verify reports published by international media regarding alleged military construction at Berbera Airport before announcing any formal response.
According to the officials, Somalia also considers all previous security and defence agreements with the United Arab Emirates to have been cancelled earlier this year following a dispute over what Mogadishu described as the unauthorized use of Somali airspace to transport leaders linked to Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council.
The officials stressed that Somalia has no objection to military cooperation with the United States, noting that Mogadishu formally offered Washington access to strategic ports and air bases, including Berbera, last year as part of efforts to deepen bilateral security cooperation.
However, both officials drew a clear distinction regarding Israel.
“Somalia will never accept the use of any part of its territory by Israel under any circumstances,” one official said.
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The comments follow an article published Monday by the French newspaper Le Monde, which alleged that the UAE has been expanding military infrastructure at Berbera Airport on behalf of the United States and Israel.
The newspaper cited satellite imagery, unnamed security officials, military analysts and airport sources who claimed ammunition depots, underground storage facilities and additional military infrastructure were under construction at the strategically located airport.
Neither the United States nor Israel has publicly confirmed the report.
Somaliland authorities, contacted by Somali Report, declined to comment directly on the reported construction but reiterated that they consider themselves fully entitled to negotiate defence and security agreements independently.
Officials in Hargeisa insisted that Somalia has “no role whatsoever” in decisions made by Somaliland and said the administration reserves the right to conclude agreements with partners including the United States, the United Arab Emirates and Israel.
The latest dispute comes only weeks after Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi said his administration was strengthening strategic partnerships with the United States, the UAE and Israel while pursuing broader international recognition.
During his recent visit to Israel, President Abdullahi also declined to rule out the possibility of a future Israeli military presence in Somaliland, although Somaliland officials have repeatedly said no Israeli military base currently exists.
Somalia continues to reject Somaliland’s claim to independence and regards Berbera as sovereign Somali territory under international law.
The disagreement highlights intensifying geopolitical competition across the Horn of Africa, where regional and global powers have expanded their military, economic and security interests along the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
If confirmed, any foreign military expansion in Berbera would likely deepen political tensions between Mogadishu and Hargeisa while raising fresh questions over sovereignty, regional security and the future of Somalia’s federal system.
About the Author
Mohamed Farah is a senior editor at Somali Report, based in London, covering geopolitics, trade, business, and security across the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.