Somalia's president rejects Israeli presence, cites reported Berbera naval base plan
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud told Al Jazeera Somalia will not accept an Israeli presence "under any circumstances" and said Israel plans a naval base in Berbera, in Somaliland. The claim about Israeli plans is his; no Israeli response is reported.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud told Al Jazeera that Somalia will not accept an Israeli presence in the country "under any circumstances". Al JazeeraLC “Somalia will not accept Israeli presence in the country “under any circumstances” and will resist any attempts to be pulled into the Middle East’s crises” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “Somalia will not accept Israeli presence in the country "under any circumstances," President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Mixed · 2Mohamud said Israel plans to establish a naval base in Berbera and to use the city's airport, and that its real aim is to get closer to the Gulf states and Iran. The reports carry this as his assertion, and neither includes an Israeli response. Al JazeeraLC “Israel was planning to establish a naval base in Berbera and use the city’s airport, adding that its real aim was to get closer to the Gulf states and Iran.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “Israel plans to establish a naval base in Berbera and use the city’s airport” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Left · 1Berbera is a port city on the Gulf of Aden coast in Somaliland, the self-declared republic in north-western Somalia that Israel recognised in December and that Mogadishu claims. It faces Yemen near the Bab al-Mandeb strait, where the Iran-aligned Houthis have previously enforced a blockade on Israel-linked ships. Al JazeeraLC “Berbera is a port city on the Gulf of Aden coast in Somaliland – the self-declared republic in northwestern Somalia that Israel recognised last year, but which is claimed by Mogadishu.”“Berbera faces Yemen across the water near the strategic Bab al-Mandeb strait.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗
Centre · 1Mohamud said attempts to pull Somalia into the Middle East's crises will not succeed and that Somalia will overcome the challenges posed by Israeli moves. He said Somaliland's residents are also opposed to an Israeli presence. Anadolu AgencyN “Attempts to pull Somalia into the Middle East's crises will not succeed, said Mohamud, adding that Somalia would overcome the challenges posed by Israeli moves.”“He said Somaliland's residents also oppose any Israeli presence.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Left · 1According to Al Jazeera, he placed the Israeli plans under the "Greater Israel" project, called Israel a "destabilising force" that does not abide by international law, and criticised its recognition of Somaliland. Al Jazeera notes that Israel has not adopted "Greater Israel" as official policy, though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in August 2025 he felt connected to the vision. Al JazeeraLC “The Somali president described Israel as a “destabilising force” that does not abide by international law.”“Israel has not adopted it as official policy, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an August 2025 interview that he felt connected to the vision” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Mixed · 2Somaliland declared independence in 1991, and Somalia considers it an integral part of its territory. Mohamud said no country other than Israel recognises it. Al Jazeera says it had not been recognised by any UN member state before Israel's move. Anadolu AgencyN “Somalia, however, considers the region an integral part of its territory.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Al JazeeraLC “No country other than Israel recognises Somaliland” Read at Al Jazeera ↗
Left · 1In the wider interview, Mohamud called the United States Somalia's strongest partner against "terrorism" and said al-Shabab has no presence in the major cities. He described relations with Ethiopia as good and said Mogadishu does not object to Ethiopia gaining sea access through Somali territory. He also accused the Houthis of destabilising the region and disrupting navigation in the Bab al-Mandeb strait. Al JazeeraLC “the United States remains his country’s strongest partner in the fight against “terrorism””“Mogadishu does not object to Addis Ababa gaining access to the sea through Somali territory.”“Mohamud also accused Yemen’s Houthis of “destabilising” the region and disrupting navigation in the Bab al-Mandeb strait.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Left · 1Al Jazeera says the full interview is due on Al Jazeera Arabic on Sunday. It places the comments as the Houthis try to build on an offensive that captured Yemen's Red Sea coast last month. Al JazeeraLC “The full interview with President Mohamud will be broadcast on Al Jazeera Arabic on Sunday.”“His comments come as the group attempts to build on its lightning offensive that captured the country’s Red Sea coast last month.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Leads with the exclusive interview and gives the president's wider comments, with background on Somaliland, "Greater Israel", the Houthis and the Yemen front.
- Emphasis
- Regional context: Bab al-Mandeb, Houthi offensive, Saudi response, Ethiopia, al-Shabab.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No Israeli response to the base claim.
- Charged language
- “destabilising force”“Greater Israel”
- For example
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“The Somali president described Israel as a “destabilising force” that does not abide by international law.” — Al Jazeera
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Short report relaying the president's statements from Al Jazeera's excerpts, framed as his statements.
- Emphasis
- The rejection of Israeli presence, the Berbera base and airport plan, and Somaliland's status.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Leaves out the Greater Israel reference, the Houthi context, and his remarks on the US, al-Shabab and Ethiopia. No Israeli response.
- For example
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“In an interview with Al Jazeera to be broadcast on Sunday, excerpts of which were shared on the broadcaster's website” — Anadolu Agency
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Mohamud said Somalia will not accept Israeli presence 'under any circumstances'.
- He said Israel plans a naval base in Berbera and use of its airport.
- Israel recognised Somaliland last year; Somalia considers it part of its territory.
- The remarks come from an Al Jazeera interview to be broadcast on Sunday.
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud person
Rejects any Israeli presence, says Israel plans a Berbera naval base and airport use aimed at getting closer to the Gulf states and Iran, and says Somalia will overcome the challenges.
““We will overcome the challenges posed to our country by Israeli moves,” Mohamud said in his wide-ranging interview.” — Al Jazeera
Somalia place
Considers Somaliland an integral part of its territory and condemns Israel's recognition of it.
“Somalia, however, considers the region an integral part of its territory.” — Anadolu Agency
Left1 article
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Somalia won’t accept Israeli presence ‘under any circumstances’: President
Neutral Detailed interview report with extensive background; relays the president's claims and adds context noting Israel has not adopted 'Greater Israel' as policy.
Centre1 article
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Somalia won't accept Israeli presence 'under any circumstances': President
Neutral Brief relay of the president's statements, attributing them to the Al Jazeera interview.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 3 Oct 17:25 First Al JazeeraLC Somalia won’t accept Israeli presence ‘under any circumstances’: President
- 4 Oct 02:42 +9h 18m Anadolu AgencyN Somalia won't accept Israeli presence 'under any circumstances': President
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.