MOGADISHU – The Somali federal government has announced plans to restrict Israeli vessels from transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, escalating tensions following Israel’s diplomatic recognition of Somaliland and its decision to appoint an ambassador to Hargeisa.
Somalia ambassador to Ethiopia, Abdullah Warfa said the measure is intended to “defend Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” warning that Mogadishu would respond firmly to any external actions it considers interference in its internal affairs. He added that Somalia could impose broader maritime limitations affecting strategic Red Sea shipping routes if necessary.
The announcement comes shortly after Israel and Somaliland formalized their diplomatic exchange, marking what officials describe as the most significant breakthrough in Somaliland’s decades-long push for international recognition. The move has been strongly condemned by Mogadishu, which considers Somaliland an integral part of its territory despite its unilateral declaration of independence in 1991.
Security analysts, however, question Somalia’s practical ability to enforce a naval blockade or targeted ban, citing its limited maritime capacity and dependence on international partners for coastal security. Despite these constraints, observers say the statement carries strong symbolic weight and could deepen diplomatic tensions in an already volatile Red Sea region.
Regional analyst Rashid Abdi warned that Somalia’s rhetoric risks complicating its relations with key Western partners, particularly the United States, if the situation is interpreted as aligning indirectly with Houthi forces active in nearby waters. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait remains one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and global shipping routes.
Meanwhile, Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro reaffirmed his administration’s push for international recognition, arguing that a “two-state solution” between Somalia and Somaliland is the only sustainable path forward. Speaking in his annual address to parliament, he said Somaliland would intensify diplomatic outreach in pursuit of formal statehood.
Somaliland has pursued recognition for more than three decades without success, until Israel’s decision in late 2025, which triggered sharp regional criticism and renewed debate over sovereignty, international law, and shifting alliances in the Horn of Africa.
