Somalia won’t accept Israeli presence ‘under any circumstances’: President

In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Somalia will oppose any Israeli presence on its territory and will resist attempts to involve Somalia in Middle East conflicts. He told the broadcaster that Israel was planning to set up a naval base in the port city of Berbera and to make use of the city's airport, asserting that these moves were aimed at drawing Israel closer to Gulf states and Iran. Berbera lies on the Gulf of Aden in Somaliland, the self-declared republic in northwestern Somalia that has governed itself since 1991 but is not recognised by Mogadishu. Mohamud criticised Israel’s decision to recognise Somaliland — a recognition the president said is opposed by Somaliland residents — and described Israel as a destabilising force that does not comply with international law. Mohamud framed Israeli activity in the region as part of what he called a 'Greater Israel' project, language tied to long-standing, varied proposals about Israeli territorial ambitions; the president said Somalia would overcome challenges posed by such moves. He also reiterated that Somalia continues to view the United States as its strongest partner in the fight against terrorism and said al-Shabab no longer has a presence in the country’s major cities. On broader regional issues, Mohamud said Somalia’s ties with Ethiopia are good and that Mogadishu does not object to Addis Ababa gaining sea access through agreed use of Somali ports for economic purposes. He also criticised Yemen’s Houthis for disrupting navigation in the Bab al-Mandeb strait and said their recent offensive and attacks were destabilising the region. The full interview will be broadcast on Al Jazeera Arabic on Sunday.