Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Mogadishu opposes any Israeli presence in Somaliland, cautioning that Tel Aviv’s recognition of the self‑declared region could import Middle East tensions into the Horn of Africa. Mohamud told TRT World his country has never attacked or created problems for Israel and does not want Israeli‑related conflicts brought to Somali soil. He called the situation deeply regrettable and urged respect for international law. Mohamud said recent Israeli actions are not compatible with international law, citing Gaza and the broader Middle East conflict history. He expressed sadness that such disputes are now being transferred to Somalia. Mohamud said Mogadishu has engaged the United Nations, African Union, IGAD, East African Community, Arab League, and Organization of Islamic Cooperation, all of which backed Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He noted that Somalia’s northern regions have long faced separatist challenges, but the government has consistently pursued peaceful resolution. He added that authorities have not used force or heavy‑handed diplomacy against those groups. Mohamud said Türkiye has mediated between Somaliland and Somalia, including 2015 talks and maintaining a representative in Hargeisa to sustain dialogue. Ankara has traditionally supported Somalia’s unity and sovereignty through challenging periods. He added that Türkiye consistently stands with people facing injustice. Mohamud said Somalia retains broad international support despite Israel’s unlawful recognition of Somaliland. The Somali leader emphasized the issue’s urgency given Israel’s recent regional actions beyond Palestine, including Syria and Lebanon, raising concerns about involvement in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and the Horn of Africa, which he called a highly volatile area as Somalia combats Daesh and al‑Shabaab militants. He warned that an Israeli presence could reignite conflict in parts of Somalia and neighboring states around the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Gulf, noting hostile relations involving Yemen’s Houthis and Iran toward Israel. Mohamud cautioned that if Israel uses Somaliland as a proxy territory to attack others, they may retaliate in Somaliland and Somalia, creating a dangerous dynamic. He said setting up a military base in Somaliland and forcibly relocating Palestinians would intensify conflict, which Somali authorities and citizens firmly reject. Earlier, Mohamud told Al Jazeera that Somaliland had agreed to resettle Palestinians, host an Israeli military base, and join the Abraham Accords in exchange for recognition by Israel, based on intelligence reports.
