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Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has strongly rejected Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland, warning that the move threatens Somalia’s unity, sovereignty, and regional stability. Speaking in a nationally televised address released by the presidential palace on Thursday night, the president said Somalia would not accept any foreign action that attempts to divide the country without the consent of its people and government.
Hassan Sheikh described Israel’s recognition as a unilateral decision driven by its own strategic interests rather than concern for the people of Somaliland. He stressed that Somalia remains one nation and that its borders cannot be altered by external agreements or declarations made by other countries. According to the president, such actions violate Somalia’s sovereignty and undermine long-standing international principles that protect the territorial integrity of states.
The president said the federal government is working closely with international partners to counter what he called clear violations of Somalia’s sovereignty. He expressed gratitude to governments and international organizations that have publicly supported Somalia’s unity, noting that this backing reflects broad global respect for the country’s territorial integrity.
This was the president’s second public address responding directly to Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, which was announced late last year. The decision has drawn widespread condemnation from regional and international bodies, including the African Union, the Arab League, the European Union, IGAD, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Hassan Sheikh said this level of opposition shows that the international community does not support attempts to redraw borders without lawful and negotiated processes.
A significant portion of the speech focused on the long and complex relationship between Somalia’s federal government and Somaliland, which declared independence in 1991 but has never received international recognition. The president said Mogadishu has consistently supported dialogue as the only realistic path to resolving political differences, but argued that successive Somaliland administrations have not fully committed to meaningful talks.
He said past opportunities for dialogue were undermined by unilateral decisions, pointing to the now-suspended memorandum of understanding between Somaliland and Ethiopia as an example of actions that raised tensions and weakened trust. According to Hassan Sheikh, such steps only deepen divisions among Somalis and make reconciliation more difficult.
The president also warned against inflammatory language and actions that risk reopening old wounds from Somalia’s painful past. He emphasized that rebuilding trust requires calm leadership and a willingness to listen, rather than decisions that provoke fear or resentment.
Hassan Sheikh further argued that Israel’s move goes beyond Somaliland and is part of wider geopolitical interests in the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden. He claimed that these ambitions could include security and military considerations that, if mishandled, might harm Somalia’s economy, development efforts, and political stability.
Somaliland authorities have rejected claims that recognition would allow foreign military bases or involve plans related to Palestinians from Gaza. Israeli officials have promoted ideas of voluntary Palestinian migration, proposals that have been strongly rejected by Arab states and many international organizations.
Addressing Somaliland’s leadership directly, Hassan Sheikh said international recognition cannot happen without the consent of the parent state. He cited examples such as South Sudan and Eritrea, whose independence followed negotiated agreements, and compared Somaliland’s situation to regions like Catalonia in Spain and Taiwan in China, which face unresolved sovereignty disputes.
Despite his firm stance, the president said Somalia remains open to compromise. He stated that the federal government is willing to discuss issues such as rights, decentralization, and power-sharing through serious and respectful dialogue. He also acknowledged the suffering experienced by civilians in northern Somalia under past regimes, noting that these injustices have been recognized and must be addressed through dialogue.
In recent days, more than 20 countries issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s decision and calling for it to be reversed. Hassan Sheikh said this growing diplomatic pressure reinforces Somalia’s position and serves as a reminder that unity, not division, is the only path to lasting stability and legitimacy.