By Shire Abdi - Reporter
Turkey, 17 April 2026 – Somalia warned Friday that Israeli recognition of Somaliland could worsen security in the strategic Bab el-Mandeb strait, saying rising regional tensions may disrupt global trade and maritime traffic.
Somalia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ali Mohamed Omar, said the strait, which links the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, is a vital route the world depends on.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, he said Israeli recognition of Somaliland would deepen fragmentation in the Horn of Africa and pose risks to international shipping lanes.
“Israel’s actions are creating risks in the region,” he said. “We hope the world recognizes the importance of addressing these security threats,” the minister said.
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Omar said the Bab el-Mandeb strait is crucial to global trade as many nations depends on maritime routes like it.
He also cited the strait’s historical importance, saying global powers have long competed over the area, including during the colonial division of Africa when European nations viewed it as strategically vital.
Somalia called on the international community to monitor the situation and safeguard key maritime routes, warning that continued tensions could have wide-ranging economic and security consequences.
The Bab el-Mandeb strait is one of the world’s most important shipping corridors, linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and serving as a key route for oil and goods moving between continents.