Ex-President Farmaajo Condemns Israel’s Recognition of Somaliland

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo has strongly condemned Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, calling it a clear violation of international law and Somalia’s sovereignty, as Mogadishu has yet to issue an official government position on the development.

In a brief but firm statement, Farmajo said Israel was legally obliged to respect Somalia’s territorial integrity, stressing that Somaliland remains an inseparable part of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

“International law requires Israel to comply and respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Somalia. Recognizing a part of Somalia is a complete breach of this,” Farmajo said. “Somaliland is an integral part of Somalia. Our people are firmly united in the defence of their sovereignty.”

Farmajo’s remarks mark one of the most explicit political responses so far from a senior Somali figure following Israel’s announcement that it has formally recognized Somaliland as a sovereign state. His statement frames the issue not only as a political dispute but as a question of international legal order and state sovereignty.

Notably, the Federal Government of Somalia has not yet released a formal statement reacting to Israel’s move. The silence has drawn attention as regional actors, including Egypt, Turkey and Djibouti, have already publicly rejected the recognition and reiterated their support for Somalia’s unity.

Farmajo’s intervention places additional pressure on the current administration of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to articulate a clear national position, particularly as diplomatic reactions continue to unfold across the Horn of Africa and beyond.

Israel’s recognition of Somaliland is the first by a UN member state and represents a significant escalation in the long running dispute over Somaliland’s status. Hargeisa has welcomed the move as historic, while Mogadishu and its allies view it as a direct challenge to Somalia’s sovereignty and post conflict state building process.

As reactions continue to emerge, Farmajo’s statement underscores the depth of political consensus among Somali leaders, past and present, on the question of territorial unity, even as the federal government weighs its next diplomatic steps.