What does Israel want in Somaliland?

Al JazeeraCenterEN 7 min read 100% complete by Faisal AliJanuary 16, 2026 at 12:29 PM

AI Summary

long article 7 min

In late 2025, Israel announced its recognition of Somaliland, a move that sparked anger from Somalia and condemnation across Africa and the Middle East. This decision reflects a shift in Israeli foreign policy towards cultivating ties with alternative actors, driven by concerns about threats from Iran's regional allies, particularly Yemen's Houthis. The Houthis have warned against any Israeli presence in Somaliland, threatening to treat it as a military target. Security cooperation was discussed during a visit by Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to Somaliland, including the strategic port city of Berbera. Somaliland officials have expressed openness to a potential Israeli military presence, which would place Israel directly across the Gulf of Aden from the Houthis.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Hargeisa 30% Gulf of Aden 30% David Barnea 30% Benjamin Netanyahu 40% Mossad 40% Abdel-Malik al-Houthi ×250% Somalia 50% Gideon Saar ×260% Yemen ×260% Houthis ×680% Somaliland ×885% Israel ×990%

Keywords

somaliland 100% israel 100% recognition 80% houthis 80% security cooperation 60% military presence 60% red sea 50% gulf of aden 50% yemen 40% strategic port 40%