MOGADISHU, Somalia – The Federal Parliament of Somalia, during a historic extraordinary joint session on Sunday, unanimously passed a resolution rejecting Israel’s recognition of the Somaliland region. In a decisive legislative action, both chambers of parliament declared the recognition “null and void,” stating it lacks legal validity under international law.
The resolution, titled “Resolution on the Rejection and Prevention of the Violation By Israel of the Sovereignty, Territorial Integrity and Independence of the Federal Republic of Somalia,” was adopted during the 1st Extraordinary Meeting of the 7th Session at the Parliament headquarters in Villa Hargeisa. The document firmly establishes that the Northwestern Regions (Somaliland) constitute an “inseparable part” of the sovereign territory of the Federal Republic, and that any claim to secession or international recognition is “devoid of any legal basis”.
Addressing the joint session, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud delivered a sharp condemnation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The President characterized the recognition as the “greatest violation” of Somali sovereignty in recent history.
“The step taken by Netanyahu is one that can never be accepted,” President Mohamud told lawmakers. He described the move as a “naked violation” against the statehood, independence, and unity of the Federal Republic. The President emphasized that while Somalia has faced many difficult circumstances, it has never encountered a violation of this magnitude regarding its territorial integrity.
“Somalia is one. It has a long history. The northern regions of the Republic, known as Somaliland, are part of the Federal Republic of Somalia,” the President declared, reaffirming the government’s stance that the nation’s unity is non-negotiable.
The Parliament “strongly condemns and categorically rejects” any declaration by Israel purporting to recognize Somaliland as a sovereign state.
The legislature determined that the recognition constitutes a clear violation of the UN Charter, the Constitutive Act of the African Union, and the charters of the Arab League and OIC.
The resolution warns that any individual or institution, whether Somali or international, that violates this resolution shall be subject to the Penal Code and other applicable laws of the Federal Republic.
The Parliament directed the Federal Government to immediately transmit the resolution to major international bodies, including the UN, AU, and IGAD, to reaffirm the Somali people’s right to national security and territorial unity.
The Parliament’s resolution also framed the issue as a broader security concern, stating that the “so-called recognition is a threat to peace and security in the Horn of Africa and to stability around the world.” This legislative action solidifies the legal framework for the Federal Government’s diplomatic offensive, providing a clear mandate to oppose any external attempts to fragment the Somali state.
