Somalia bans passage of Israeli ships through Bab al‑Mandeb Strait

Pars Today – The government of Somalia has announced that it will prohibit the passage of Israeli ships through the strategic Bab al‑Mandeb Strait in response to the regime’s recognition of the separatist region of “Somaliland.”

According to Pars Today, citing IRNA, Abdalla Warfa, Somalia’s ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union, warned that any interference in his country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity would have serious consequences.

He stated: “Any party that interferes in Somalia’s internal affairs and harms its sovereignty and unity will face severe repercussions, including potential restrictions on access to the Bab al‑Mandeb Strait.”

According to experts, this move may push Mogadishu toward forming new relations—particularly with Sana’a—something that could negatively affect Somalia’s relations with the United States as well.

These developments come as the Israeli regime has recently begun implementing an agreement to exchange ambassadors with “Somaliland,” making it the first entity to recognize the region—an action that contradicts international law and lacks recognition from the United Nations.