The Somali government has reacted with fury to Israel’s formal recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland, with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud labeling the move a “naked invasion” of his country’s sovereignty.
Addressing an emergency joint session of parliament in Mogadishu on Sunday, the President delivered a blistering speech. He accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of committing the “greatest abuse” in Somali history. For many in the chamber, the tone was clear: Israel is now viewed as an adversary.
The legislative floor responded with rare, swift unanimity. Lawmakers passed a resolution declaring Israel’s diplomatic outreach to Hargeisa “null and void.” While the move is largely symbolic—Somalia has lacked practical control over Somaliland since it declared independence in 1991—the political weight of the rejection was palpable.
The diplomatic firestorm began on Friday when Mr. Netanyahu announced full relations with Somaliland. He framed the decision as an extension of the Abraham Accords, the U.S.-brokered initiative that normalized ties between Israel and several Arab states.
Israel’s move makes it the first United Nations member state to formally recognize Somaliland. The self-declared republic has functioned as an independent state for over thirty years, complete with its own currency and flag, yet it has remained a pariah in the eyes of the international community until now.
President Mohamud warned that this recognition could ignite a firestorm of separatist movements across the continent. He urged Somali citizens to set aside long-standing clan and regional rivalries to face what he called an “existential threat.”
“We need to combine our wisdom and strengths to defend our existence,” Mohamud told the assembly. He also voiced concerns that Israel was attempting to export Middle Eastern tensions into the Horn of Africa, vowing that Somali soil would not become a military staging ground.
In Hargeisa, Somaliland’s leadership struck a different tone. President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi defended the deal, insisting it was not an act of hostility toward neighbors. He framed his nation as a moderate Islamic democracy seeking only the justice of international standing.
The fallout, however, has been swift. A coalition of 21 Arab and African nations, alongside the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, issued a joint statement condemning the move. They characterized it as a grave violation of the UN Charter.
Even regional heavyweights like Kenya, Uganda, and Djibouti have signaled their support for Mogadishu’s territorial integrity. Meanwhile, Eritrea has called for the UN Security Council to intervene, drawing comparisons to the sensitive status of Taiwan.
The United States has remained cautious. When asked about potential recognition, President Donald Trump expressed skepticism, questioning the general awareness of Somaliland’s status while noting the matter is still under review.
The UN Security Council is scheduled to meet on Monday to discuss the implications of the recognition. For Somalia, the coming days will be a test of whether diplomatic pressure can force a reversal, or if the geopolitical map of the Horn of Africa has changed for good.
