The Somali government has strongly rejected what it described as a “deliberate attack on its sovereignty” following Israel’s recognition of the self-declared “Republic of Somaliland” as an independent state, reaffirming that the region is an integral part of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
In an official statement, Mogadishu emphasized that any recognition of Somaliland’s independence is null and void under international law, reiterating its commitment to the unity of Somali territory and internationally recognized borders. The statement also reiterated Somalia’s refusal to host foreign military bases or enter arrangements that could drag the country into proxy conflicts, stressing that all necessary diplomatic and political measures would be taken to defend national sovereignty.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had announced the recognition, marking the first official acknowledgment of Somaliland’s unilateral declaration of independence in 1991. Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi welcomed the move as a “historic moment.”
The announcement drew swift regional condemnation. Turkey, a key ally of Mogadishu, denounced the recognition as “a blatant interference in Somalia’s internal affairs,” accusing Israel of pursuing expansionist policies while obstructing recognition of a Palestinian state. Egypt also condemned any unilateral measures affecting Somali sovereignty, describing the recognition as a “dangerous precedent” that threatens international peace, security, and established principles of international law.