Somali Government Appeals to Arab Countries to Stop Somaliland Recognition Campaign
Somalia is urging Arab countries to use their diplomatic influence to prevent Israel’s recognition of Somaliland from triggering wider international recognition of the breakaway region.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (Somali Report) — Somalia has called on Arab countries to use their diplomatic ties and influence to prevent Israel’s recognition of Somaliland from developing into a broader international campaign to secure recognition for the breakaway region.
Somalia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ali Mohamed Omar, known as Ali Balcad, made the appeal in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, saying Mogadishu was closely monitoring any discussions about possible new recognitions of Somaliland.
Omar said Somalia was also maintaining direct contacts with the administration of US President Donald Trump to communicate its opposition to Israel’s decision and stress what Mogadishu considers the potential political and security consequences of the move.
Israel became the first United Nations member state to formally recognize Somaliland in December, according to Omar. The two sides subsequently exchanged ambassadors, while Somaliland opened an embassy in Jerusalem and its president made an official visit to Israel.
Despite those developments, Omar said the recognition had so far failed to trigger a wider wave of international recognition for Somaliland.
“Israel’s recognition has not, until now, resulted in a wave of other international recognitions,” he said, while emphasizing that Somalia continued to regard the development as a serious political and security issue.
Somalia considers Somaliland part of its sovereign territory and has consistently rejected efforts by the self-declared republic to gain international recognition as an independent state.
Omar said the Somali government did not view Israel’s recognition as merely a symbolic diplomatic gesture. Instead, he argued that any external move aimed at altering Somalia’s territorial unity could have consequences for the country’s political stability and security.
He also pointed to what he described as Israeli diplomatic and security engagement in Somaliland, including assistance with the training of security forces.
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The Somali official warned against any attempt by a foreign country to establish a military or intelligence presence in Somalia without the approval of the federal government.
He said the militarization of the Somaliland issue could increase instability in Somalia and pose wider risks to the Horn of Africa, a strategically important region bordering major international shipping routes.
Omar also praised the swift response from Arab countries following Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, saying their statements demonstrated continued regional support for Somalia’s territorial integrity.
He said the Arab reaction was important because it showed that Israel’s decision had not altered what he described as the prevailing international and regional consensus on Somalia’s unity.
But Mogadishu wants Arab countries to go beyond issuing statements of condemnation.
“The objective is not only to issue condemnation, but to prevent unilateral recognition from turning into a broader campaign,” Omar said, urging Arab governments to actively use their diplomatic relationships and influence.
He argued that Somalia’s territorial unity should not be viewed solely as a Somali issue, saying the fragmentation of an Arab and African country could establish a precedent whose consequences extend beyond Somalia.
The dispute over Somaliland’s status has long been a sensitive issue in the Horn of Africa. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not secured broad international recognition.
Mogadishu has repeatedly warned that unilateral recognition could undermine regional stability and encourage other separatist movements, while Somaliland argues that its long-standing self-government and distinct political institutions justify its claim to statehood.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.