Somalia’s president said Israeli recognition of Somaliland has been rejected both globally and domestically, and stressed that Somalia’s unity is “non-negotiable” and a “red line.” He urged Somaliland leaders to engage in dialogue “at all levels” and said he is ready to compromise on anything except unity.
“Come and lead us,” he told Somaliland leaders. He added that all Somalis belong to one country – Somalia – which is internationally recognized.
“Don’t waste time trying to create a new one. We are ready to discuss a better future that makes what happened yesterday [past atrocities] impossible to repeat it. That future can only be achieved through unity, dialogue at all levels, and compromise.”
President Mohamud was speaking in the town of Las Anod, which unionist fighters seized from the Somaliland administration in 2023. Mohamud declared that the Northeastern State, whose leader was inaugurated on Saturday, is a full member of Somalia’s federal member states.
Somaliland celebrated the Dec 26 Israeli recognition and urged other countries to follow Israel’s lead.
Israel defended the decision, saying it alone decides whom it recognizes, and its foreign minister visited Hargeisa earlier this month.
Mohamud urged Northeastern State leaders and Somaliland to release prisoners of war they are holding from each other.
The ambassadors of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Sudan, and Djibouti – which also sent a separate ministerial-level delegation – traveled to Las Anod in an apparent show of support for the federal government and the new regional administration.
The event was attended by traditional leaders from across Somalia, but the regional leaders of Puntland and Jubaland, who have differences with the federal leadership, stayed away. Leaders of Southwest and Hirshabelle also did not attend, even though they maintain close working relations with the federal government.
Source: Harun Maruf.
