Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has publicly declared that his nation will not accept an Israeli military presence on its soil under any circumstances. In an interview with Al Jazeera, the President addressed reports and concerns regarding potential Israeli plans to establish a naval base in the port city of Berbera.

President Mohamud’s comments come amid a complex geopolitical landscape in the Horn of Africa, where various international powers are vying for influence and strategic access to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The President emphasized that Somalia’s sovereignty remains a priority and that the government is not considering any security arrangements that would involve an Israeli military footprint.

While the President was clear in his rejection of such a base, the report highlights the ongoing tension regarding foreign military infrastructure in the region. The Somali government has been working to consolidate its control over its coastal territories, and the President’s statement serves as a firm boundary against external military expansionism that could complicate Somalia's internal and regional security dynamics. The administration has maintained that its foreign policy is focused on regional stability and that it will not be drawn into alliances that could be perceived as provocative or detrimental to its national interests. As of now, there has been no official response from Israeli authorities regarding the specific claims of a planned naval base in Berbera, leaving the President's comments as the primary public record on the matter.