Somaliland could host Israeli military base, says official Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 01/08/2026 - 09:53 Hargeisa foreign ministry official tells Israel media that military base is being discussed, days after authorities denied such a move Somaliland army members participate in a parade in Hargeisa, Somaliland, on 18 May 2024 (Reuters/Tiksa Negeri) Off A Somaliland official has reportedly said that the breakaway region could host an Israeli military base, despite a previous denial that it would make such a move. Last month, Israel became the first country to officially recognise Somaliland as a state. Following the decision, Somaliland authorities officially denied an accusation by Somalia that it would accept Palestinians forcibly displaced from Gaza, or that it would host an Israeli military base on its soil. However, Israeli media reported on Thursday that a base was being discussed. Channel 12 cited Deqa Qasim, an official in Hargeisa’s foreign ministry, as saying that a military base was on the table and being spoken about, though it would depend upon the content of an agreement between both sides following the opening of mutual embassies. Qasim also said that security cooperation with Israel would include fighting against terror, including naval cooperation. On Tuesday, Gideon Saar, Israel's foreign minister, made an official visit to Somaliland. Saar was pictured meeting Somaliland’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, as he declared in an official statement that, "unlike 'Palestine', Somaliland is not a virtual state." The foreign minister added that Somaliland was “pro-western and friendly to Israel”. Saar said Israel and Somaliland would cooperate on strategic partnerships in the medical, defence, education and water sectors. “In the coming months, we'll bring local professionals from Somaliland's water sector to Israel for training,” Saar said. “We'll also send Israeli experts here to help implement new capabilities.” Somalia's foreign ministry condemned the Israeli visit to Somaliland, saying it was a violation of Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. On 26 December, Israel became the first country in the world to formally recognise Somaliland, an autonomous region of Somalia and a former British protectorate. In the wake of the announcement, protests erupted in Somaliland, with videos showing people on the streets of Boroma, about 50km west of Hargeisa, waving Palestinian flags and chanting “Free, free Palestine”. Somalia News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0