Somali President Condemns Israel’s Somaliland Recognition as ‘Naked Invasion’ in Address to Parliament

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has strongly condemned Israel’s move to recognize Somaliland, calling it an unacceptable assault on Somalia’s sovereignty, as the Federal Parliament simultaneously adopted a binding resolution rejecting any attempt to divide the country.

Addressing a joint session of the two houses of parliament in Mogadishu, the President delivered his sharpest remarks yet on the issue, declaring Somalia’s unity non-negotiable.

“Somalia is one. It has a long history. The northern regions of the Republic, known as Somaliland, are part of the Federal Republic of Somalia,” President Mohamud told lawmakers. “The step taken by Netanyahu is one that can never be accepted.”

He described the move as a “naked invasion” against Somalia’s statehood, independence, and territorial integrity, saying it represented an unprecedented violation in the country’s modern history.

“Somalia has faced many difficult circumstances, but it has never encountered a violation of this magnitude against its territorial integrity,” the President said.

President Mohamud pointed to the strong public reaction across the country as evidence of national resolve. He said the unity shown by Somalis sends a clear message to Israel and “any others with harmful intentions” that Somalia’s sovereignty cannot be infringed upon.

He urged both the government and the public to prioritize national unity, warning that any attempt to fragment the country poses a direct threat to Somalia’s existence, as well as regional peace and stability.

The President’s address came as lawmakers passed, by an overwhelming majority, a resolution formally rejecting Israel’s recognition of Somaliland. The motion was approved during the same joint sitting, with 168 members voting in favor and only two against.

The resolution explicitly condemns and categorically rejects Israel’s declaration, ruling that it violates the UN Charter, the Constitutive Act of the African Union, and the charters of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. It further affirms that Somaliland remains an integral part of the Federal Republic of Somalia, with no legal or constitutional basis for recognition as a separate state.

Lawmakers also warned of legal consequences, stating that any individual or institution, Somali or foreign, that acts in violation of the resolution would be subject to Somalia’s Penal Code and other applicable laws.

In a direct instruction to the executive, parliament mandated the Federal Government to immediately transmit the resolution to international and regional bodies, including the United Nations, African Union, and IGAD, to formally reaffirm Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial unity.

Beyond the Somaliland issue, President Mohamud welcomed the support Somalia has received from regional, Arab, African, and international partners in defending its unity. He also reiterated Somalia’s solidarity with the Palestinian people, condemning forced displacement and ongoing violations against civilians.

“Somalia will not allow its land to be used for wars and violence,” the President said, adding that the country is ready to play a constructive role in promoting peace and stability in the region and beyond.

He concluded by calling on Somalia’s allies and international organizations to support the country’s diplomatic and legal efforts to defend its independence, unity, and national existence, stressing that Somalia’s position will not change under any circumstances.