Somaliland Coast Guard Commits to Securing Bab al-Mandab Amid Growing Strategic Alignment

Rare maritime security statement follows Somaliland’s expanding international partnerships and rising Red Sea tensions.

Somaliland’s first explicit pledge to help secure the Bab al-Mandab Strait signals a broader regional security role following its growing strategic ties with Israel. Although the statement makes no direct reference to Israel, its timing suggests Hargeisa is increasingly positioning itself as a maritime security partner in one of the world’s most contested waterways.

Somaliland Coast Guard and Navy Commander Admiral Ahmed Hurre Hariye has reaffirmed Somaliland’s commitment to protecting the security of the Bab al-Mandab Strait in coordination with regional and international partners.

Hariye said Somaliland remains committed to enforcing international maritime law and strengthening cooperation to safeguard freedom of navigation and international trade through the strategic waterway.

The statement comes as security dynamics in the Red Sea continue to evolve following Houthi attacks on commercial shipping and shortly after Somaliland formalized strategic cooperation with Israel, a development that has heightened the geopolitical significance of the Horn of Africa.

The Bab al-Mandab Strait remains one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints. As regional and international actors seek to strengthen maritime security, Somaliland’s latest declaration suggests Hargeisa is seeking a more visible role in safeguarding navigation on the African side of the Red Sea.