Kaah Party Leader: We Support Israel’s Recognition, But Oppose Jerusalem Embassy
By Goth Mohamed Goth
HARGEISA, Somaliland – The leader of Somaliland’s main opposition party, Kaah, has publicly clarified that while his party fully endorses the recognition extended by Israel, it remains firmly opposed to establishing the Somaliland embassy in the contested city of Jerusalem.
Mahmoud Hashi Abdi stated that the Kaah party’s position is “clear and unambiguous,” emphasizing that their objection is strictly limited to the diplomatic mission’s location and does not constitute opposition to the recognition itself.
Official Welcome of Recognition
Mr. Hashi recounted that on the day Israel officially recognized Somaliland, President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Cirro) convened a meeting with political party leaders to inform them of the landmark diplomatic development. According to the Kaah chairman, his party formally welcomed the recognition and publicly praised the move.
He further noted that Kaah had previously issued a statement commending Israel’s advocacy for Somaliland during a United Nations Security Council debate. The party also condemned the remarks made by Somalia’s representative at that session and reaffirmed its solidarity with the government following the recognition.
Formal Engagement with Israel
In a significant diplomatic gesture, Mr. Hashi revealed that Kaah had dispatched an official letter of appreciation to the Israeli government in response to the recognition.
He added that party officials had inquired with the President as to whether the recognition was contingent upon any specific agreements or conditions. According to Mr. Hashi, the President assured them that no such conditions were attached to the diplomatic move.
The Jerusalem Controversy
The debate over opening the Somaliland embassy in Jerusalem has become a major point of contention among politicians in recent weeks. While the government views the relocation as a necessary and symbolic diplomatic step tied to the broader recognition, the Kaah party insists on separating the two issues—firmly supporting the recognition while rejecting Jerusalem as the site for the embassy.
Rebuttal to Presidential Accusations
Mr. Hashi’s latest remarks serve as a direct rebuttal to recent accusations made by President Cirro. The President had suggested that Kaah’s opposition was not merely about the embassy location, but was, in fact, a veiled attempt to oppose the recognition itself.
By drawing this clear distinction, the Kaah leader seeks to reaffirm his party’s patriotic support for Somaliland’s international standing while maintaining its principled objection to the specific geopolitical implications of an embassy in Jerusalem.
