Somalia has voiced strong opposition to Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, warning that its land will not be used to host conflicts from other regions.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud addressed the nation during a special session, stressing the country’s commitment to sovereignty and regional stability in light of the recent development.
The president’s statement comes amid concerns that Israel and some international actors considered relocating Palestinians from Gaza to parts of the Horn of Africa, including Somaliland.
Somalia views such plans as a threat to its territorial integrity and the peace of the wider region.
“We warn against efforts to transfer conflicts and destabilising wars from other regions onto Somali territory,” Hassan said, according to TRT Afrika.
“Somalia will not allow its land to be used as a base for aggression against other countries.”
Hassan described Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as a bold provocation and a serious challenge to national unity.
“Somalia has endured many hardships, but it has never experienced a transgression like the one committed on December 26, 2025,” he said.
He added that Mogadishu will explore all diplomatic and legal options to contest Israel’s decision and urged regional and international organisations to resist measures that could threaten stability in the Horn of Africa.
Hassan also stressed the importance of peaceful dialogue with Somaliland, noting Somalia’s continued commitment to negotiation to preserve national cohesion.
Israel’s formal recognition of Somaliland was announced on Friday, through a declaration signed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, and Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia more than 30 years ago after the collapse of the central government, though Somalia has never officially accepted this separation.
While Somalia maintains that Somaliland is part of its territory, the region has long functioned independently, operating its own currency, security forces, and political system.
Its leaders have sought formal recognition from the international community for decades.
The move by Israel has drawn widespread criticism from global and regional organisations, including the United Nations, the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and the East African Community, all of which condemned it as a violation of Somali sovereignty.
