Somalia president says Israel’s recognition of Somaliland was a ‘trap’

On Jun 13, 2026

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has said Israel’s recognition of Somaliland was not a diplomatic victory for the self-declared republic but a “trap” that could ultimately draw Somalia into a conflict that is neither its own nor in its national interest.

Speaking in an interview with Dawan TV, Mohamud said Israel turned to Somaliland after failing to establish relations with Somalia’s federal government, arguing that the move was driven by Israeli security interests rather than support for Somaliland’s decades-long campaign for international recognition.

“Somaliland did not secure recognition and will not secure recognition; what it received was not recognition at all, but a trap laid by Israel,” Mohamud said.

The Somali president said Israel had previously approached Mogadishu while seeking ways to address growing security concerns linked to regional conflicts.

According to Mohamud, Somalia declined to establish diplomatic relations, despite assuring Israeli officials that it did not regard Israel as an enemy.

“Israel found itself facing mounting security risks amid regional conflicts and sought ways to mitigate them,” he said. “It viewed a part of Somalia as potentially relevant to addressing some of those concerns and subsequently approached the Somali government.”

“We told them that we harboured no animosity toward them, but that we had no relations with them and that the time was not right to establish such relations. We said, ‘Let us wait until that time comes,’ and the discussions ended there.”

Mohamud said Somalia’s position on Israel was shaped by a combination of religious, ideological and humanitarian considerations.

“Our opposition to Israel is rooted in several ideological considerations. Some are based on religious convictions and fundamental principles of faith, while others arise from humanitarian concerns and issues related to human rights,” he said.

The president claimed that Israel subsequently concluded that Somaliland’s leadership would be more willing to provide the cooperation it was seeking and therefore moved toward recognizing the territory.

“That is how the recognition came about,” Mohamud said.

“And from it, a major problem – indeed, a very serious problem – is likely to emerge, the signs of which are already becoming visible today. The danger is that Somalia could find itself drawn into a war that is neither its own nor in its national interest.”

Mohamud warned that the development risked exposing Somalia to wider regional tensions and conflicts, saying his government was determined to avoid becoming entangled in disputes beyond its borders.

His remarks come weeks after Somaliland announced plans to establish an embassy in Jerusalem, a move that sparked criticism from across the Muslim world after Somaliland’s ambassador formally presented credentials to Israel’s president.

Israel has also appointed an ambassador to Somaliland in a reciprocal diplomatic move and plans to establish an embassy in the territory.

Somaliland has defended the relationship, saying Israeli recognition serves its national interests and could encourage additional countries to recognise the territory in the future.

Officials in Hargeisa have also argued that cooperation with Israel could help address key development challenges, including water scarcity, with Israeli support already being directed toward water-sector projects.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 following the collapse of Somalia’s central government. Although it has operated as a de facto state for more than three decades, with its own government, parliament, currency and security forces, it has not achieved widespread international recognition.

Somalia continues to regard Somaliland as an integral part of its territory and has consistently opposed any foreign recognition of the region as an independent state.

Mohamud’s comments underscore the growing diplomatic dispute triggered by Israel’s recognition of Somaliland and highlight the broader geopolitical tensions surrounding the Horn of Africa, regional security and the future status of the breakaway territory.

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