Somali Elders Lead Mogadishu Protest Against Somaliland Recognition Push

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Prominent Somali traditional elders and clan leaders on Tuesday staged a mass protest at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Daljirka Daahsoon) in Mogadishu, denouncing what they called attempts to push a “so-called recognition of Somaliland.”

Addressing local media, the elders warned that any move to recognize Somaliland would amount to a direct assault on the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and a violation of international laws and norms that protect the unity of states.

At the close of the demonstration, the elders released a joint statement reaffirming their outright rejection of any actions or positions that undermine Somalia’s sovereignty or threaten its national cohesion. They said they were prepared to confront any efforts aimed at fragmenting the country or weakening its religious and national foundations.

The statement called on the federal government, political leaders, and all sectors of Somali society to close ranks against what the elders described as foreign interference. It also praised the government’s diplomatic engagement in international forums to counter initiatives seen as targeting Somalia’s unity and sovereignty.

The elders stressed that safeguarding Somalia’s unity and independence is a national obligation that cannot be compromised. They urged the international community to respect Somalia’s territorial integrity and to avoid steps that could fuel instability in the region.

The protest comes amid ongoing demonstrations in several parts of the country against what protesters describe as Israeli interference in Somalia’s internal affairs. On Sunday, thousands of people, the majority of them women, also gathered at Daljirka Daahsoon to reiterate that Somalia is one, indivisible nation, and that Somaliland remains an integral part of the federal state.