a major diplomatic escalation, Somalia has labeled Israel’s formal recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland as a “naked invasion and Mogadishu is leading an international backlash, while regional blocs are expressing concern over the move’s impact on Horn of Africa stability.
The Council of the League of Arab States strongly condemned Israel’s recognition of the Northwest Region of Somalia , the so-called Somaliland region
The Arab league expressed solidarity with the Federal Republic of Somalia in the face of aggression against its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Mogadishu has officially labeled Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as a “naked invasion.” The East African Community (EAC) has stepped in, reaffirming its recognition of Somalia as a single sovereign state. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has warned Israel not to “export its conflicts” to Somali soil.
Yet the lack of recognition has left Somaliland politically and economically isolated despite its location on one of the world’s busiest trade routes connecting the Indian Ocean to the Suez Canal.
While no other countries have formally recognized it, several states — including the UK, Ethiopia, Turkey, the UAE, Denmark, Kenya and Taiwan — maintain liaison offices, and the Trump administration has signaled in recent months that it could change its stance on the breakaway region.
Somalia’s president has condemned Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland as a “naked invasion”, warning that the move threatens to ignite separatist movements elsewhere.
Press reports a few months ago said Somaliland was among a handful of African territories willing to host Gazans under a now largely abandoned plan to resettle some of the Strip’s population. But neither the Somaliland authorities nor the Israeli government has ever commented on those reports.
Addressing an emergency joint session of parliament on Sunday, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has committed the “greatest abuse” of Somalia’s sovereignty in the nation’s history and referred to Israel as an “enemy”.
Somalia’s ambassador to Egypt and permanent representative to the Arab League, Ali Abdi Awari, also condemned Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as an “aggressive act” and a “flagrant violation” of international law.
Awari made the remarks during an emergency meeting held by the League of Arab States, at the level of permanent representatives, on Sunday at the League’s general secretariat in Cairo.
He added that the move should be perceived as part of Israel’s broader aggressive agenda, which aims to undermine state legitimacy and fuel separatism. Somalia, Awari affirmed, will work to counter these plans, especially as it prepares for the presidency of the Security Council in January 2026.
Moreover, Awari emphasized that the Israeli recognition compromises Arab national security and Red Sea navigation, calling on Arab states to stand firm against Israeli aggressions and prevent their recurrence.
The Council also rejected any measures resulting from this invalid recognition that could facilitate the forced displacement of the Palestinian people or allow the use of northern Somali ports for the establishment of foreign military bases.
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