The Somali ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union (AU), Mr. Abdillahi Warfaa, has warned against any interference in the internal affairs of Somalia. He emphasized that any actions that undermine the unity and territorial integrity of Somalia will have negative repercussions, including the blockade of the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. The ambassador made these remarks on his X platform in response to the recent appointment of an Israeli ambassador to Somaliland, which the Somali government believes damages its sovereignty. He stated, “Any country that meddles in the internal affairs of Somalia and undermines its unity and territorial integrity will face consequences, including restrictions on the Bab-el-Mandeb maritime route.” To effectively address this issue, Somalia plans to strengthen diplomatic pressure, cooperate closely with regional countries, and work with international organizations to monitor vessel movements. However, Somalia does not have a direct presence in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, making it difficult to impose restrictions. The implementation of such measures will depend on the capacity of the Somali army, international agreements, and cooperation with regional countries and other stakeholders interested in the security of the strait. The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, located between Djibouti and Yemen, is a strategically important waterway in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Although Somalia has a long coastline that extends to the Gulf of Aden, it does not have jurisdiction over these waters. Somaliland, which seceded from Somalia in 1991, controls the coasts of the Gulf of Aden and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.
