Thousands rally in Somalia against Israeli recognition of Somaliland

Somali president charges that Israel wants to move Gazans to Somaliland, build a military base there and have it join the Abraham Accords; Erdogan decries ‘illegitimate and unacceptable’ decision

Large protests broke out in several towns and cities across Somalia on Tuesday in opposition to Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland.

Israel announced on Friday that it would recognize Somaliland — which declared independence in 1991 but has never been recognized by any other country — as an “independent and sovereign state.”

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has condemned the move as a threat to stability in the Horn of Africa. He traveled Tuesday to Turkey, a close ally, to discuss the situation.

Thousands of protesters marched through the streets of Somali capital, Mogadishu, and gathered at a stadium, waving placards with anti-Israeli slogans alongside Somali and Palestinian flags.

“We will never allow anyone to violate our sovereignty,” one attendee, Adan Muhidin, told AFP, adding that Israel’s move was “a blatant violation of international law.”

Demonstrations also took place in Lascanod in the northeast, Guriceel in central Somalia, and Baidoa in the southwest.

“There is nothing we have in common with Israel. We say to the people of Somaliland, don’t bring them close to you,” said Sheikh Ahmed Moalim, a local religious leader, in Guriceel.

Somaliland, which has a population of more than three million people, has long been a haven of stability and democracy compared to conflict-scarred Somalia, and has its own money, passport and army.

It also has a strategic position on the Gulf of Aden that makes it an attractive trade and military partner for regional and international allies.

Somaliland declared independence in 1991, as Somalia was plunged into chaos following the fall of dictator Siad Barre, and has operated autonomously since then.

Diplomatic isolation had been the norm until Israel’s move to recognize it as a sovereign nation, although several countries have partial relations with Somaliland, including the United States and the United Kingdom.

Israel’s decision to recognize its statehood has brought rebukes from across the Muslim and African world, with many fearing it will stoke conflict and division, and accusing Israel of violating Somalia’s sovereignty.

These accusations were reiterated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday, at his meeting with his Somali counterpart in Istanbul.

“Preserving the unity and integrity of Somalia in all circumstances holds special importance in our view. Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland is illegitimate and unacceptable,” Erdogan said.

He announced that Turkey was planning on starting offshore energy drilling off the coast of Somalia in 2026 as per a bilateral agreement, and that it would be adding two new drilling vessels to its fleet.

Israel’s relations with Turkey have all but collapsed in recent years, after Ankara strongly condemned Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip as it battled Hamas in a war triggered on October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian terror group led a mass invasion of southern Israel.

Erdogan has frequently accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, and has repeatedly likened Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.

Mohamud likewise denounced Israel’s decision, saying that Netanyahu’s “aggressive position, which also includes Somalia, is unacceptable.”

The Somaliland declaration, he charged, was “a violation of international law” and “the start of insecurity and instability, especially for Somalia and the African region.”

Speaking with Al Jazeera, Mohamud also alleged Israel’s aim in recognizing Somaliland was to move Palestinians there, build a military base and have it join the Abraham Accords.

In contrast to the criticism leveled at Israel over its decision, there have been celebrations in Somaliland’s capital, Hargeisa, with the rare sight of Israeli flags being waved in a Muslim-majority nation.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.