By Goth Mohamed Goth
MOGADISHU — The Federal Government of Somalia has issued a strong condemnation of Israel’s recent diplomatic actions in the Somaliland region, specifically rejecting what it describes as the “purported accreditation of an ambassador in Hargeisa” and the laying of a cornerstone for a so-called embassy.
In a press statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on November 3, 2026, the Somali government declared these actions “null and void and without legal effect.”
The Ministry stated that the Israeli measures were undertaken without the consent of the Federal Government of Somalia and constitute a “flagrant violation of Somalia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity.”
Adherence to International Law
The statement reiterated Somalia’s position that Hargeisa and the Somaliland region remain an “integral and inseparable part” of the Federal Republic. It emphasized that establishing diplomatic relations and permanent missions requires the consent of the sovereign state, citing the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
“No unilateral act can circumvent that requirement or alter the status of Somali territory,” the Ministry asserted.
Regional Tensions and Historical Context
The statement linked these recent developments to Israel’s “unlawful recognition of December 2025,” noting that this prior move had already been rejected by the African Union, IGAD, the League of Arab States, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
Somalia warned that these actions come at a precarious time for regional security. The Ministry noted that encouraging fragmentation and disregarding internationally recognized borders in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden risk “deepening tensions across an already fragile region.”
Demands and Next Steps
The Federal Government has demanded that Israel immediately reverse these measures. It is also calling on all states and international organizations to reject the actions and refrain from any engagement that would confer legitimacy upon them.
Furthermore, the Somali government stated it reserves the right to pursue all appropriate diplomatic, political, and legal measures under international law to defend the country’s sovereignty.
The statement concluded with a firm declaration: “Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected. The unity of the Somali nation is not negotiable.
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