Israeli Defense Minister drops a bombshell: We have been conducting covert operations with Somaliland for years.
Ahmed Salem
Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz made a startling revelation with new statements regarding Somaliland regionWhich recently sparked controversy following his announcement of the establishment of an embassy in occupied Jerusalem.
In a statement issued by his office on Wednesday, Kantz confirmed that Tel Aviv had carried out a series of “secret” activities over the years in cooperation with the Somaliland region, during his meeting with the president of the breakaway region.
Last December, Israel became the first country to recognize the independence of Somaliland, which declared its separation from Somalia in 1991 following a civil war.
Katz said that “relations between Israel and Somaliland are based on a long-standing friendship that rests on shared interests, democratic values, and a commitment to security and stability,” noting that cooperation between the two sides has taken place for years behind the scenes in activities that will remain confidential.
Security cooperation between Israel and the Somaliland region
During his meeting with the region's president, Abdurrahman Mohammed Abdullah, who is currently visiting Israel, he added that his country is determined to expand the horizons of security cooperation in a way that serves the interests of both peoples and enhances the stability of the region.
The statement explained that the talks addressed ways to enhance cooperation in the security, economic and political fields between the two sides.
The Somaliland region enjoys a strategic location on the Gulf of Aden and has independent institutions including a currency, passport and military forces, but it does not have widespread international recognition.
Abdullah's visit, which began on Sunday, is his first official visit to Israel and saw the opening of the region's embassy in Jerusalem, weeks after Israel appointed its first ambassador to Somaliland and exchanged diplomatic representation.
In contrast, the region's defense minister, Mohamed Yusuf Ali, denied on Wednesday the existence of any Israeli military presence in the region, stressing that there were no talks regarding the establishment of an Israeli military base.
Previous reports had suggested speculation about an Israeli military or security presence in the area, which was reinforced by former officials' talk of Israeli naval activities there, but these claims have not been officially confirmed.
Provocation to Ethiopia
In a related development, and in a new phase of the Somali region’s ongoing provocations towards the countries bordering the Red Sea, its Foreign Minister, Abdirahman Tahir Adam Bekale, affirmed his government’s readiness to discuss Ethiopia’s needs related to obtaining a sea outlet or using commercial ports, stressing that relations between the two sides are based on historical ties and growing common interests.
In an interview with the Ethiopian newspaper The Reporter, the minister said that Somaliland fully understands Ethiopia’s need, as a landlocked country, to access sea lanes and ports that contribute to supporting its trade and economic development, stressing Hargeisa’s readiness for dialogue on this issue.
