Somaliland’s Defence Minister, Mohamed Yusuf Ali, has denied reports that Israel has a military presence in Somaliland or that talks are under way over the establishment of an Israeli military base in the territory.

Speaking to Reuters on Wednesday while attending a business conference in Tel Aviv, Ali said Israel provides training to Somaliland’s military and police forces, but rejected claims that discussions were taking place over a possible Israeli military base.

“There is no Israeli military presence in Somaliland, and there are no talks regarding the establishment of an Israeli military base,” Ali said, describing recent reports on the matter as “rumours” and “unfounded claims.”

Israel’s ambassador to Somaliland, Michael Lotem, declined to comment.

Somaliland, strategically located in the Horn of Africa, has governed itself since 1991, when it declared independence from Somalia following the collapse of the Somali state and the outbreak of civil war. Its independence, however, has not been widely recognised internationally.

In December last year, Israel became the first country to formally recognise Somaliland, a move strongly rejected by Somalia’s Federal Government, which described it as a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.

In February, Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, also known as Irro, told Reuters that his administration hoped to develop future military cooperation with Israel, but said no discussions had taken place over the establishment of Israeli military bases in Somaliland.

Recent international media reports claimed that Israel had opened an intelligence facility in Somaliland and had held talks over a possible military base. Somaliland’s defence minister has now firmly denied those reports, insisting that no such arrangements are in place or under discussion.