Moscow (SD) – The Russian government says it is closely monitoring the port city of Berbera in Somaliland as a military base.

The New-York Times published this week in a long article on Russian interference in Africa.

“Russian officials are looking to establish a base in Berbera port on the coast of Somaliland, a self-declared autonomous administration of Somalia in the Gulf of Aden, according to officials of the Russia Defense Department. The United States and China, both based in Djibouti, share a maritime border with this port Russia saw its future.” the New York Times wrote.

It’s not clear in the article, if Russia approached Somaliland with its intentions, but the unrecognized enclave can greatly benefit in an opportunity such as this one.

There is a huge functioning Russian military base in Berbera already, the Russians build it in the seventies, but were expelled by the Siad Bare regime later that decade.

The Somaliland government has not yet commented on this uplifting news, regarding a possible deal that could spell and independence.