DJIBOUTI CITY — Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh has issued a stark warning that the potential establishment of an Israeli military base in the strategic port city of Berbera would directly threaten stability throughout the Horn of Africa.
In recent media statements, Guelleh accused Israel of exploiting Somaliland’s long-standing quest for international recognition to secure a strategic foothold in the volatile region. He expressed deep concern that authorities in Hargeisa might accept dangerous geopolitical concessions in return for formal state recognition from Tel Aviv.
UAE Labeled as Israel’s “Gateway”
Guelleh, who has led Djibouti since 1999, also offered unusually direct and severe criticism of the United Arab Emirates, characterizing the Gulf nation as Israel’s primary “gateway” to the Horn of Africa.
The Djiboutian leader claimed the UAE is driving strategic realignments across the Horn and the Red Sea that risk escalating existing conflicts. Guelleh further alleged extensive Emirati involvement in destabilizing sovereign nations across the region, citing ongoing crises in Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, Chad, and Libya.
Regional Alliances and Somaliland Tensions
While publicly distancing Djibouti from what he described as disruptive Emirati influence, Guelleh reaffirmed his government’s strong, enduring strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia. He noted that Djibouti continues to provide the Kingdom with critical access to military facilities, highlighting his country’s long-standing role as the guardian of the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait—one of the world’s most important maritime trade passages.
Regarding his administration’s diplomatic ties with Somaliland, Guelleh characterized relations with newly elected Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi “Irro” as “cold.” He revealed that his administration has actively refused meetings and high-level engagement with the new Hargeisa leadership since Israel’s controversial recognition of the breakaway region.