MOGADISHU – A Somali government official has claimed that Israeli military personnel, including soldiers of Ethiopian origin, have been deployed in Somaliland in what is described as a discreet arrangement.
According to the unnamed official cited by local media, around 50 Israeli soldiers were allegedly sent to Somaliland in December 2018, shortly after reports of growing informal contacts between Israel and the self-declared republic.
The official further alleged that the deployment includes Israeli soldiers of African origin, particularly Ethiopian Jews, suggesting this was intended to help personnel blend more easily into local communities.
The Israeli government has not commented on the claims, while Somaliland authorities have neither confirmed the presence of such troops nor provided clarification on the allegations.
The report comes amid growing speculation over possible security and diplomatic cooperation between Israel and Somaliland. However, Somaliland’s Defence Minister Mohammed Yusuf Ali has previously denied that Israel maintains any military base in the territory.
The claims remain unverified and have not been independently confirmed.
