Somalia

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Mogadishu rejects Israel's recognition of Somaliland and any military presence in Berbera, warning against bringing Middle Eastern conflicts to the Horn of Africa. He also discussed the impact of disruption to shipping caused by the Houthis, and relations with the UAE, Ethiopia, Egypt, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia, as well as domestic security and political developments.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud reaffirmed his country’s rejection of an Israeli base in Berbera or the use of its airport, and said Mogadishu was ready to allow Ethiopia to use two or three Somali ports for trade under economic agreements and international rules, while security cooperation with the United States continues.

A report found that between 120 and several hundred al-Shabaab members were trained at camps in Yemen, primarily in weapons use, bomb-making and drone operations. Other reports said the Houthis had sold weapons to the group, amid a US warning that the two groups’ growing capabilities could threaten shipping in the Red Sea and the western Indian Ocean.

Baidoa, the capital of Somalia’s South West State, saw intense fighting involving fighter jets and drones after an attack by forces loyal to former regional president Abdiaziz Laftagareen. The Somali army said it had driven the attackers out of the city, while Laftagareen’s forces denied government accusations of co-operating with al-Shabaab.

Puntland’s maritime police freed the oil tanker Cebo 1 and its 20-member crew after they were held off the Somali coast, announcing that one pirate had been killed and 41 others arrested. The operation was followed by circulating claims that Iraqis had taken part in the rescue, but these were not officially confirmed by Iraq or Somalia.

Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro said his administration is ready to offer the United States investment opportunities and access to Berbera port and its strategic location, with military cooperation potentially expanding in the future. Hargeisa is seeking US recognition and security support, while Mogadishu rejects its independence claim.

Al-Shabaab has recaptured most of the territory it lost to the Somali army during the 2022 and 2023 campaign, as the African Union mission’s withdrawal approaches and US logistical support is set to end. The group’s expansion, including its courts and tax collection in areas under its control, is raising concerns about the Somali forces’ ability to fill the security vacuum.