MOGADISHU — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Saturday strongly condemned Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, describing the move as a serious violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and one of the darkest moments in the country’s modern history.
Speaking in an interview with Dawan TV, a Mogadishu-based broadcaster, Mohamud accused Israel of exploiting the long-running dispute between Somalia’s federal government and the self-declared republic of Somaliland.
“Tel Aviv is taking advantage of the long-standing dispute between Mogadishu and Hargeisa,” the president said.
Israel formally recognized Somaliland as an independent sovereign state in December 2025, becoming the first country to do so. The decision sparked criticism from Somalia and concern among several regional observers.
Mohamud said Somalia had deliberately chosen a peaceful approach in dealing with Somaliland since it declared independence in 1991 following the collapse of Somalia’s central government.
“We had two possible paths to address this issue. We chose dialogue, persuasion and political engagement instead of force,” he said. “Although the process has taken more than 30 years, it was the most appropriate course under the circumstances.”
The Somali leader reiterated that his government considers Somaliland an integral part of Somalia and rejects any foreign recognition of the region.
“Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity are non-negotiable,” he said, adding that external interference could undermine efforts aimed at achieving a lasting political settlement.
Mohamud also noted that Somalia has never established diplomatic relations with Israel and reaffirmed his government’s support for the Palestinian cause.
“We regard Israel as an aggressor against the Palestinian people,” he said.
Somaliland, located in the Horn of Africa, has functioned as a de facto independent entity for more than three decades, maintaining its own government, parliament, security forces and currency. Despite relative stability compared with other parts of Somalia, it has not received broad international recognition.
The recognition by Israel has added a new dimension to the dispute between Mogadishu and Hargeisa, with analysts warning that the move could increase diplomatic tensions in the region and complicate efforts to resolve Somaliland’s status through dialogue.
The Somali government has repeatedly called on the international community to respect Somalia’s territorial integrity and has vowed to continue pursuing a peaceful solution to the Somaliland issue through negotiations.
