Somaliland president defends opening embassy in Jerusalem after Israel recognition
Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro defended his administration’s decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem and establish diplomatic relations with Israel, saying Somaliland’s foreign policy is guided by national interests.
Hargeisa (Somali Report) — Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro on Tuesday defended his administration’s decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem and establish full diplomatic relations with Israel, saying Somaliland’s foreign policy must be guided by its own national interests.
Speaking in Hargeisa, Irro rejected criticism from some Islamic countries and Somaliland’s opposition KAAH party, which has supported relations with Israel but opposed locating the embassy in Jerusalem.
“I was not elected to work for Palestine, but I was elected to work for the interests of Somaliland,” Irro said.
Irro said the embassy was opened in West Jerusalem, which he described as territory that many countries recognize as part of Israel. Jerusalem remains one of the most disputed issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and most countries maintain that the city’s final status should be determined through negotiations.
The president said Somaliland had not harmed Palestinians and supports their right to determine their own future. But he said Somaliland has spent 35 years seeking international recognition, including from Islamic countries, without receiving meaningful support.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not received broad international recognition. Somalia’s federal government maintains that Somaliland remains part of Somalia.
Irro said Somaliland is a Muslim society with brotherly ties to the Islamic world, but Islamic countries have not recognized its existence.
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He said Israel became the first country to recognize Somaliland, leading to full diplomatic relations between the two sides.
“We are friends with the country that recognized us,” Irro said. “Diplomacy is based on reciprocity. When Israel recognized us, we recognized it.”
Irro emphasized some Islamic countries had objected to Somaliland’s diplomatic steps, including the appointment of an ambassador to Israel and the opening of the embassy in Jerusalem.
“We say brothers, we need you, you are our brothers, see us,” Irro said, addressing Islamic countries. “If you do not see us, at least leave us alone.”
The remarks followed criticism from KAAH, which said it welcomes Israel’s recognition of Somaliland and supports building relations with Israel, but believes the embassy should have been opened elsewhere.
KAAH Foreign Affairs Secretary Barkhad Mahmoud Kariye said the Jerusalem embassy violated Somaliland’s Constitution, international law and the United Nations Charter.
“We support the relationship between Somaliland and Israel, and we welcome the recognition granted to Somaliland by Israel,” Barkhad said. “However, the embassy opened in Jerusalem is against the Somaliland Constitution, international law and the United Nations Charter, as the embassy could have been opened elsewhere.”
Irro urged Somaliland’s political parties and stakeholders to unite behind the pursuit of international recognition, saying the issue is a national interest that should rise above political differences.
The dispute highlights the tension between Somaliland’s long campaign for recognition and its efforts to maintain ties with Muslim-majority countries that remain strongly supportive of the Palestinian cause.
About the Author
Osman Hassan is a Senior Editor at the Somali Report based in Nairobi with over 15 years of experience in journalism. He has worked with local and international media outlets in Somalia and is an award-winning journalist. His reporting focuses on politics, security, and regional affairs in the Horn of Africa.