By Steven Scheer
TEL AVIV, June 17 (Reuters) - Israel has no base in Somaliland but is training its police and military forces, Somaliland's Defence Minister Mohamed Yusuf Ali said on Wednesday, as the breakaway territory appealed for Israeli investment in agriculture and other sectors.
Yusuf Ali was part of a large delegation to Israel this week to mark Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi's first official visit, after Israel became the first country to formally recognise Somaliland as an independent
state in December.
Strategically situated on the Horn of Africa, Somaliland has enjoyed effective autonomy — and relative peace and stability — since 1991, when it broke away from Somalia as that country descended into civil war.
Somalia rejected Israel's recognition of Somaliland and termed it a "deliberate attack" on its sovereignty.
The Somali Guardian reported on Sunday that Israel had opened an intelligence base in Somaliland and there were discussions over the possible establishment of an Israeli military base.
Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of a business forum organised by Israel's foreign ministry in Tel Aviv, Yusuf Ali dismissed reports that Israel was in negotiations to establish a military base in the territory as "rumours".
"There is no Israeli military presence or military bases in Somaliland," he said. "But Israel is helping Somaliland ... they are supporting to train some of our police and military."
'SOMALILAND IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS'
Michael Lotem, Israel's ambassador to Somaliland, declined to comment. Israel has said its recognition was not a hostile step toward Somalia.
Israel Katz, Israel's defence minister, said after a meeting with Abdullahi he was looking to deepen security, economic and diplomatic ties with Somaliland and that the two were both fighting "terrorist" elements in the region.
"For many years we cooperated under the radar in a series of operations that will remain secret," Katz said.
Several countries have questioned whether the move was aimed at establishing military bases in a location where Israel could counter Yemen's Houthis, who fired rockets at Israel during the two-year Gaza war and whose attacks on vessels in the Red Sea disrupted shipping there.
In February, Abdullahi told Reuters that while Somaliland hopes for future military cooperation with Israel, establishing Israeli military bases had not been discussed.
During the conference, Abdullahi said he sought to deepen Israeli-Somaliland economic ties, calling Israel a "valued and reliable friend."
"Somaliland is open for business, and Somaliland is ready for Israeli investment," he said, touting the territory's "vast natural resources" and position as a maritime gateway to Africa.
Somaliland is eager to tap into Israel's technological expertise in agriculture and livestock, water management, renewable energy, healthcare and cybersecurity, Abdullahi said.
Eden Bar-Tal, Israel's Foreign Ministry director general, said becoming the first country to recognise Somaliland put Israeli entrepreneurs at a "significant and unique advantage."
(Reporting by Steven Scheer; Editing by Alex Richardson, Milla Nissi-Prussak and Aidan Lewis)
