Somali President Reaffirms Commitment to Unity, Signals Openness to Power Sharing with Somaliland

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to defending the country’s unity and sovereignty, while also signaling readiness for dialogue and power sharing with the northern regions, amid renewed diplomatic and political tensions.

In a national address Thursday night, the president spoke about the country’s overall situation, ongoing diplomatic and legal efforts by the Federal Government, and Somalia’s position on what he described as foreign interference and actions undermining national unity and independence.

President Hassan Sheikh said the Federal Government of Somalia, working alongside its citizens and international partners, is pursuing diplomatic and legal measures to counter any violations of the country’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. He stressed that the government would never compromise on defending the nation’s independence and cohesion.

At the same time, the president emphasized that the federal leadership remains open to listening to grievances from the northern regions and finding solutions through dialogue, mutual respect, and compromise.

“Anything that strengthens unity, we are ready for it, including sharing power with our brothers in the North (Somaliland),” he said.

Hassan Sheikh noted that he has held multiple engagements with the leadership of Somaliland and made sustained efforts to help halt fighting in Sool region. However, he said those efforts were not met with sufficient responsiveness.

“We tried to stop the conflict, but we were not listened to. Even so, the solution lies within us,” the president added.

Relations with Somaliland

The remarks come at a sensitive moment for Somalia, as the federal government intensifies efforts to safeguard national unity following prolonged political tensions with Somaliland, which declared independence in 1991 but remains internationally unrecognized. Relations have further strained in recent years due to armed clashes in Sool, where local communities have opposed Somaliland’s authority and aligned themselves more closely with Mogadishu.

President Hassan Sheikh’s comments reflect a dual-track approach by the Federal Government: asserting firm opposition to any moves seen as threatening Somalia’s territorial integrity, while also keeping the door open for dialogue and political compromise with northern leaders.

The government says its long-term objective is a durable political settlement built on dialogue and mutual concessions, aimed at securing a united and stable future for the country.