Jerusalem, Israel – Israel has declared its initiation of formal ties with Somalia for the first time, citing mutual interests in countering Houthi influence in the Horn of Africa.
Although no previous diplomatic ties existed between the nations, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel stated in an interview with i24NEWS that Somalia holds substantial influence in economic affairs, fisheries, maritime commerce, and global trade, especially via the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
According to Haskel, this positioning makes Somalia essential for Red Sea and international security matters.
The reported engagement reportedly originates from Somalia’s concerns regarding Houthi threats, which allegedly involve cooperation between Houthis and Al-Shabaab.
The statement cited a UN report documenting an expanding relationship between these two groups.
The Somali government has firmly rejected any claims of establishing diplomatic relations with Israel. This denial came after an Israeli official disclosed discussions with multiple African countries, among them Somalia.
Israel’s declaration represents an evident strategy to extend its diplomatic and security reach into the strategically significant Horn of Africa and Red Sea region.
By specifically identifying Somalia, a pivotal coastal nation overseeing the southern access to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, Israel demonstrates its commitment to actively protecting this critical maritime corridor against Houthi threats that directly impact Israeli-affiliated vessels.
Characterizing the initiative as a mutual endeavor against Iran-aligned Houthis situates this diplomatic effort within Israel’s wider regional confrontation with Tehran.
Israel’s invocation of a UN report regarding the connections between Houthi and Al-Shabaab connections serves as strategic justification.
Regardless of the nature or maturity of such ties, leveraging UN authority lends an appearance of objective, security-focused reasoning to the engagement, elevating it beyond mere geopolitics into counterterrorism, a more acceptable framework for global audiences.
Somalia’s swift and unambiguous denial was not only predictable but also highlights the differing pressures confronting both nations. For Somalia, preserving unity with the Arab and Islamic world, where Israeli recognition remains deeply controversial, represents a fundamental foreign policy and domestic priority. Direct engagement with Israel could jeopardize vital partnerships with countries such as Qatar, Türkiye, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, and might incite violent retribution from Al-Shabaab, which would exploit such developments as compelling propaganda for recruitment.
This incident follows a familiar pattern where informal or preliminary engagements are disclosed by one party for strategic advantage, compelling a public rebuttal from the other.
Israel benefits by demonstrating diplomatic initiative and gauging reactions. Somalia’s denial safeguards its immediate priorities without definitively excluding the possibility of clandestine communications or intelligence exchanges regarding security concerns, such as maritime threats. Opportunities for implicit, security-oriented cooperation often persist below the formal diplomatic threshold.
This public discourse illuminates the intricate cross-pressures affecting Horn of Africa nations. These countries find themselves engaged by competing Middle Eastern powers (Saudi Arabia/UAE versus Qatar/Türkiye versus Iran) and now potentially by Israel as well.
Somalia’s rejection indicates its fundamental orientation remains with the Arab-Islamic bloc, yet Israel’s very approach suggests Mogadishu is viewed as a sufficiently unified entity to merit strategic partnership status, an indirect recognition of its increasing geopolitical significance.
Israel’s declaration is less about forging an established relationship with Somalia and more about strategic communication and positioning. The objective involves projecting influence, legitimizing Israel’s role in Red Sea security, and exerting indirect pressure on Iran’s regional network.
For Somalia, this situation represents a diplomatic balancing act, necessitating a clear public position to preserve essential regional ties while possibly managing unspoken security considerations. This episode demonstrates how the wider Middle Eastern cold war is increasingly extending to African territories, with vulnerable states like Somalia serving as both arenas and unwilling participants.
