Somaliland’s diplomatic gamble with Israel promises port growth but exposes Berbera to missile threats from Houthi rebels and Al-Shabaab militants.
BERBERA: Somaliland’s recent diplomatic recognition by Israel could supercharge growth at its strategic Berbera port. It also risks making the vital trade hub a target in an increasingly volatile region.
The port, transformed by Emirati giant DP World, sits on the world’s busier shipping lanes. Traffic surged 30% between 2023 and 2025, according to port authority director Ali Diriye Ahmed.
A pending deal with landlocked Ethiopia could boost container volumes by another 80%. Ahmed said Israel’s recognition promises a “tremendous increase”, already prompting expansion plans.
This alliance introduces severe security risks, however. Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have issued a stark warning. Their leader, Abdel Malek al-Houthi, declared any Israeli presence in Somaliland a “military target”.
The United Arab Emirates, which operates the port and a nearby military base, was itself targeted by Iranian missiles. A DP World employee, speaking anonymously, noted intense, unexplained air traffic at the base.
“There is a widespread assumption that there is an Israeli military or security presence that is already in the country,” a Western diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity. Experts believe the UAE facilitated Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region.
Confirmation of Israeli forces at the Emirati base could paint a target on Berbera for Houthi or Iranian missiles. The local threat from Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Shabaab also looms, as the group vows to oppose Israeli activity.
Somaliland authorities “only saw the recognition, without thinking about the future,” fears Roland Marchal, a regional specialist at Sciences Po university. Hargeisa initially denied talks on an Israeli base but later said “nothing is off the table”.
“We are not partnering with Israel to be against anyone,” asserted Khadar Hussein Abdi, Somaliland’s minister of the presidency. He told AFP the region “wants to contribute to peace in the region”.
In Berbera, optimism persists. Mayor Abdishakur Mohamoud Hassan credits DP World’s investment for booming population and tax revenue, funding new schools and clinics.
With Israel’s recognition, “we expect this city to develop similarly to Dubai,” he said with a smile. He added he was “not afraid” of attacks, stating, “If a country like Ukraine has been resisting Russia for years, we too will not be intimidated by the Houthis.”
The Sun Malaysia
