Somalia condemns new Israeli move in Somaliland, warning of deeper divisions

Citizens in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, which declared unilateral independence from Somalia in 1991 and was recently recognized as a state by Israel, continue their daily lives on December 30, 2025. [Abdiwahab Mohamed – Anadolu Agency]

Somalia has stepped up its objections to Israel’s actions in the breakaway region of Somaliland, rejecting the appointment of an Israeli ambassador to the regional authorities and the laying of the foundation stone for an Israeli embassy in Hargeisa.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said the moves constituted a clear violation of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, describing them as “null and void, with no legal effect”, as they had been made without the consent of the federal government.

The statement stressed that Hargeisa and the Somaliland region were an integral part of the Federal Republic of Somalia. It said the establishment of diplomatic relations and permanent missions required the consent of the sovereign state, in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, and that no unilateral action could override this requirement or change the legal status of Somali territory.

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Mogadishu called on Israel to reverse the measures immediately and urged countries and international organisations not to take any steps that could legitimise them.

It warned that continued actions encouraging division and disregarding internationally recognised borders could further escalate tensions in a region already facing security instability.

The Somali government said it reserved the right to take appropriate diplomatic, political and legal measures under international law to defend the country’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. It stressed that the unity of the Somali people is “non-negotiable”.

The latest dispute follows a further development in Israel’s relations with Somaliland. On 26 December 2025, Israel announced its recognition of the region as an independent sovereign state, becoming the first United Nations member state to do so. The move prompted widespread condemnation from the Somali government and several countries and regional organisations.

READ: Somali president accuses Israel of taking advantage of dispute with Somaliland

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