The United Arab Emirates is reportedly constructing a military base in Somaliland, an internationally unrecognized region in the Horn of Africa. According to a report by the French newspaper Le Monde, the UAE is converting the Berbera airport, located near one of the world’s most strategic maritime routes, into a military installation. The report claims the project is intended to serve the interests of Abu Dhabi, Tel Aviv, and Washington.

Somaliland, with its capital in Hargeisa, lies along the Gulf of Aden and has an 800-kilometer coastline near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key global trade and energy supply route between Asia and Europe. Since declaring independence from Somalia in 1991, the region has drawn attention from regional and international powers. Despite opposition from Arab and Muslim countries, Israel has recognized Somaliland as an independent entity.

Le Monde further reported that military cooperation between Israel and Somaliland is expanding, with regular visits by military and intelligence officials, training of Somaliland officers in Tel Aviv, and frequent inspections by Israeli teams at the Berbera base.

Somaliland’s cabinet has approved a bilateral strategic cooperation agreement with Israel, formalizing commitments announced during President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi’s recent visit to the country. The agreement, passed unanimously in a cabinet meeting following the June trip, marks a new phase in relations between the two sides.

According to the presidential office, the deal will open new avenues of partnership in security, investment, technology exchange, and economic development. Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has long struggled for international recognition. Israel became the first country to officially recognize Somaliland last year.

Geopolitical analysts cited in the report suggest that Israel’s recognition and cooperation are driven by strategic interests in the Red Sea region, particularly around the Gulf of Aden, where Israel seeks to strengthen its military and geopolitical presence and counter Iranian and Houthi influence.

Somali football referee Omar Artan, who had been selected by FIFA to officiate at the World Cup, was denied entry into the United States despite holding all valid documents and a visa. After a long journey from Istanbul, Artan arrived at Miami International Airport, where US border officials detained and questioned him for about 11 hours before refusing him entry. FIFA later confirmed that Artan would not be able to participate in any training or match duties for the tournament.

Upon returning to Somalia, Artan expressed disappointment, saying he believed the issue was related to his nationality. His arrival at Mogadishu airport turned into an emotional scene as hundreds of supporters greeted him with national flags, celebrating him as a national hero despite his missed opportunity.

Artan encouraged Somali youth not to lose hope in their country, vowing to aim for the next World Cup. His resilience and patriotism have resonated deeply with football fans around the world.

At least several dozen people were killed in a new attack by armed jihadists in central Mali, according to local and security sources on Saturday. The assault, which occurred on Friday, was claimed by the al-Qaeda-linked group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). Earlier in the week, the same group had attacked several villages, killing at least 30 people, AFP reported from Bamako.

Local officials said the recent wave of violence has left more than 70 people dead, with some estimates reaching around 80. A youth leader accused the nearby army unit of failing to respond to repeated calls for help, describing the community’s grief as overwhelming. A security source described the situation in the region as extremely alarming, noting that JNIM has been targeting villages that refused to sign local peace agreements.

The latest violence follows unprecedented attacks last month by JNIM and the Tuareg-controlled Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) against Mali’s ruling junta, pushing the country’s security situation into deeper crisis and leaving parts of the north under militant control.

At least three commercial vessels have been hijacked off the coast of Somalia in the past week, reviving fears of piracy in waters once considered secure. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has raised the region’s security risk to “substantial” and advised ships to proceed with caution. The hijackings include the fishing vessel Alkhari-2 on April 20, the oil tanker Honor-25 on April 21 carrying 16,000 barrels of oil with 17 crew from several Asian countries, and the cargo ship Sword on April 26, which remains under pirate control.

Analysts attribute the resurgence to reduced anti-piracy patrols as naval forces are redeployed to address the Iran–US conflict and Houthi unrest in the Red Sea. Rising global oil prices, now exceeding $110 per barrel due to the ongoing wars, have made oil tankers more attractive targets for pirates.

Somalia’s waters were once the world’s most dangerous, causing billions in global economic losses before NATO and EU operations curbed piracy. Experts now warn that those gains are at risk of reversal.

International concern has grown over a resurgence of piracy off the coast of Somalia, following a series of ship hijackings reported in recent weeks. Maritime authorities said the risk level in the region has been raised significantly after multiple incidents, including the seizure of a cargo vessel by armed men on April 27, 2026. This was the fourth such attack within a week, following earlier assaults on a fishing boat, an oil tanker, and other commercial ships.

Experts noted that piracy in the area had nearly disappeared three years ago but has now returned, alarming the global shipping industry. Weak security conditions and favorable weather have made small-boat attacks easier. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) advised vessels to maintain heightened security and report any suspicious activity. In some cases, crews have successfully repelled attackers.

The World Bank previously estimated that Somali pirates earned hundreds of millions of dollars in ransom between 2005 and 2012. Analysts warned that if the situation remains unchecked, commercial shipping through the Indian Ocean and Red Sea could face higher costs and greater security risks.

Mali’s Defense Minister General Sadio Camara was killed in coordinated attacks targeting several military installations across the country, according to Al Jazeera citing its sources. The assault occurred near the Kati military base, close to the capital Bamako, where Camara’s residence was struck by a suicide car bomb. The attack followed a joint offensive by an al-Qaeda-linked group and Tuareg rebels a day earlier.

Camara was a key figure in Mali’s ruling military leadership, having played a central role in the 2020 and 2021 coups that brought the current government to power. He was considered highly influential within the armed forces and viewed as a potential future leader. Al Jazeera’s reporter Nicolas Haque described his death as a major blow to Mali’s military establishment.

The al-Qaeda-affiliated Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and the Tuareg rebel group Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) claimed responsibility for the attack. Interim President Assimi Goïta, whose residence is also located in Kati, was reported safe after being moved to a secure location.

Mali’s army reported that coordinated armed attacks occurred on Saturday morning in the capital Bamako and several other regions. According to the military, terrorist groups launched assaults on multiple army barracks, prompting ongoing counter-operations. Explosions and sustained gunfire were heard near the main military base in Kati, known as the residence of military ruler General Assimi Goïta. Fighting was also reported in the central town of Sévaré and the northern cities of Kidal and Gao. Heavy weapons fire was heard near Bamako’s Modibo Keita International Airport, where a helicopter was seen patrolling.

Mali, rich in gold and other minerals, has faced more than a decade of armed unrest. Following two military coups in 2020 and 2021, the country severed ties with France and expelled French troops and the UN peacekeeping mission. In July last year, the military government confirmed Goïta as president for five years, with the term renewable without elections.

The attacks come as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—three military-led states—continue joint security efforts under the Alliance of Sahel States to combat armed groups in the region.

Bangladesh and eleven other countries have strongly condemned Israel’s announcement to appoint a diplomatic representative in Somaliland, a self-declared breakaway region of Somalia. The joint statement, issued on April 19, 2026, described the move as a serious violation of Somalia’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.

The countries involved are Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, Algeria, Palestine, Turkey, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Kuwait. Their foreign ministers emphasized that Israel’s decision contravenes the principles of international law, the United Nations Charter, and the Constitutive Act of the African Union. The statement reaffirmed unwavering support for Somalia’s legitimate state institutions and its territorial unity.

According to the joint declaration, the nations warned that Israel’s action sets a dangerous precedent and could undermine stability in the Horn of Africa, posing risks to regional peace and security.

Israel’s decision to recognise Somaliland as an independent state, announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on December 26, triggered immediate condemnation from Somalia and across Africa and the Middle East. Yemen’s Houthi movement warned that any Israeli presence in Somaliland would be treated as a military target. The tensions deepened when Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar visited Somaliland this month, including the strategic port city of Berbera, and discussed security cooperation. Somaliland officials signalled openness to hosting Israeli military assets, placing Israel directly across the Gulf of Aden from Houthi-controlled areas.

Analysts say Israel’s move reflects a strategic shift toward engaging non-traditional partners amid growing threats from Iran-backed groups. Experts cited Somaliland’s location as a potential intelligence and operational base against the Houthis, who have targeted Israeli-linked shipping in the Red Sea. Somaliland, facing diplomatic isolation and internal pressure from Somalia, views Israel’s recognition as a crucial breakthrough. Somalia’s government, however, urged renewed dialogue, warning that recognition could only come through negotiations with Mogadishu.

Both Israel and Somaliland appear to be testing the new partnership’s limits, with analysts noting that the relationship remains nascent and its long-term trajectory uncertain.

Somalia has announced the cancellation of all agreements with the United Arab Emirates, a decision made by the Somali government on Monday amid ongoing tensions in the Red Sea region. The move will require the UAE to withdraw its troops from military bases in Somalia and halt participation in major infrastructure projects.

According to documents obtained by the UK-based outlet Middle East Eye, the cancellation covers all contracts involving government bodies, affiliated agencies, and regional administrations. The decision applies to agreements related to the ports of Berbera, Bosaso, and Kismayo. The Somali cabinet also annulled bilateral security and defense cooperation agreements with the UAE.

The government stated that the decision followed reports and strong evidence of actions undermining Somalia’s sovereignty, national unity, and political independence. The announcement marks a significant shift in Somalia’s foreign relations and could affect regional dynamics in the Horn of Africa.

Somalia’s Defense Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi has accused Israel of planning to relocate Palestinians to Somaliland, calling the alleged plan a serious violation of international law. He made the remarks in an interview with Al Jazeera, stating that Somalia had confirmed information about Israel’s intention to transfer Palestinians to the breakaway region. Israel recently recognized Somaliland as an independent state.

Both Israel and Somaliland have denied the accusation. Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has not been recognized by the United Nations. Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar told Israel’s Channel 14 last week that the forced relocation of Palestinians to Somaliland was not part of any agreement between the two sides.

Sa’ar added that Israel and Somaliland have many areas of cooperation, including politics, security, and development, but insisted that population transfer was not among them.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has declared Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as an independent state illegal and strongly condemned the move. The decision was announced during the 22nd session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers held on Saturday at the organization’s headquarters in Jeddah. The OIC described Israel’s action as a clear violation of the sovereignty, national unity, territorial integrity, and internationally recognized borders of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

Following Israel’s December 26 declaration, the OIC convened an emergency meeting to discuss the issue. In his opening address, OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha warned that Israel’s recognition of Somaliland set a dangerous precedent, breached international law, and posed a direct threat to regional security and stability in Africa. The meeting also passed two resolutions—one condemning Israel’s recognition of Somaliland and another opposing plans to displace Palestinians from their land.

The OIC reaffirmed its unwavering support for Somalia’s sovereignty and unity, emphasizing that Somaliland remains an integral part of Somalia. It rejected any attempt to separate or recognize Somaliland, calling such actions interference in Somalia’s internal affairs and a direct affront to its sovereignty.

Saudi Arabia on Friday strongly condemned the recent visit of Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar to Somaliland, a self-declared breakaway region of Somalia. In a joint statement with 21 other countries, Saudi Arabia described the visit as “illegal,” calling it a clear violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia and contrary to international norms and the UN Charter.

The statement reaffirmed full support for Somalia’s sovereignty, national unity, and territorial integrity. It also emphasized adherence to international law, non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states, and respect for diplomatic conventions to maintain regional and international stability. The joint declaration urged Israel to fully respect Somalia’s sovereignty and withdraw its recognition of Somaliland immediately.

Israel had formally recognized Somaliland as a sovereign state on December 26, 2025. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, but Israel remains the only country to have officially recognized it, a move that has drawn widespread criticism from Somalia and other members of the international community.

The United States has suspended all ongoing food aid programs in Somalia following reports that Somali officials were involved in stealing food assistance. U.S. State Department officials announced the decision on Wednesday, citing a zero-tolerance policy toward theft. The move comes after allegations that Somali officials destroyed a warehouse funded by the U.S.-backed World Food Programme and stole 76 metric tons of food aid intended for impoverished Somalis.

According to the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs, Foreign Assistance, and Religious Freedom, the theft deprived vulnerable Somalis of essential food supplies. U.S. officials stated that any future assistance to Somalia will depend on the federal government’s acknowledgment of responsibility and corrective action. Somali officials did not immediately comment on the suspension.

The suspension underscores Washington’s insistence on accountability in aid distribution and signals potential delays in humanitarian support until Somalia addresses the allegations.